HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradsh Director-General of Police M. A. Basith has asserted that that no police official from the State had extended support to the Gujarat police in the kidnap of Sohrabuddin and his wife Kauserbi, who were allegedly killed in a fake encounter.

"Informal inquiry with senior officials of different police wings has ruled out any involvement of the State police," Mr. Basith stated at a press conference here on Tuesday. "If it is found that anyone had illegally extended cooperation to the Gujarat police, they will face action," he added.

Fielding a volley of questions on the alleged logistical support extended by the local police to the fake encounter, Mr. Basith said no communication had been received from the Gujarat police about the slain persons. "There cannot be any informal arrangement or cooperation on such issues," he said dismissing charges of `discreet' help by some officials.

The Andhra Pradesh Government had sought copies of the affidavit filed by the Gujarat Government in the Supreme Court. "There is no mention about the role of the Andhra Pradesh police in the encounter," he asserted. The affidavit had said that further investigations had been taken up in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. "We are in the process of securing further reports submitted in the apex court by Gujarat."

Willing to cooperate

To a question, he said the police were not on the defensive and were willing to cooperate with officials from Gujarat.

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