NEW DELHI: Asserting there was a "pattern" in the encounter killing of Sohrabbudin and the recent expose by a tabloid on the killing of Sameer Khan in 2002, a group of human rights activists have decided to file a public interest litigation petition in the Supreme Court demanding an inquiry into the encounter killings committed in Gujarat in the past couple of years.

At a press conference organised by the non-government organisation Anhad here, poet Javed Akhtar, Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan and social activist Shabnam Hashmi said a pattern has emerged in the encounter killings in Gujarat.

They alleged that a cover-up has taken place in the inquiry into the encounter killing of Sameer Khan.

"A concerted cover-up has taken place in the inquiry into the encounter killing at the level of the Chief Minister's office," alleged Mr. Bhushan. "Both Sohrabuddin and Sameer Khan were killed claiming they were militants who plotted to kill Narendra Modi or other important people in the State and Central Governments," he added.

The activists demanded a thorough investigation into all encounter killings allegedly committed by the now suspended police officer D.G. Vanzara and his team.

Calling such encounter killings "cold-blooded murder", Mr. Akhtar said, "Encounter killings are now becoming a national issue."

Alleging that fake encounters were a way for the Modi Government to "demonise" Muslims and Pakistan as well as to divert attention from farmer suicides and poverty in the State, activist Shabnam Hashmi said they were approaching the apex court as "there is no way the judiciary in Gujarat can come to a conclusion on the matter."

"We want an inquiry into the encounters committed by the team," demanded Ms. Hashmi.

"Fourteen encounters have taken place in the past three years out of which Mr. Vanzara has been directly involved in six," she alleged.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail