New Delhi: Five years after an encounter between the Delhi Police and suspected Indian Mujahideen operatives allegedly involved in the 2008 Delhi serial blasts took place at L-18 Batla House in Delhi's Jamia Nagar, a trial court is set to pronounce its verdict in the case today. Shahzad Ahmad, the only accused standing trial in the case, is charged with the murder of inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, criminal conspiracy and firing on the police team. The controversial encounter case has been questioned by various political parties including by a few within the ruling Congress.
Shahzad is said to be one of the occupants of the flat in Jamia Nagar where the encounter took place on September 19, 2008 between officers of the Special Cell of Delhi Police and the alleged Indian Mujahideen operatives. The IM operatives are said to be involved in the September 13, 2008 serial blasts at Karol Bagh, Connaught Place, Greater Kailash and India Gate which left 26 dead and 133 injured. Other accused named in the chargesheet are Mohd Saif, Mohd Atif Ameen alias Bashir and Mohd Sajid. While Saif had surrendered, the other two had been shot dead in the encounter.
The Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri reserved the judgment on July 20 after conclusion of final arguments by the prosecution and the defence. During the trial, the prosecution examined 70 witnesses, including six eyewitnesses, who were a part of the police raiding team.Defence lawyer Satish Tamta has questioned the police narrative of the 2008 encounter, highlighting several contradictions and differences in the statements of police witnesses before the court. In his defence, Shehzad produced two witnesses, including a suspected terrorist who is an accused in the serial blasts case.
The defence claimed that as per ballistic reports the bullets found in the slain police officer's body matched the gun seized from the spot and not from the weapon which was seized from his possession when he was arrested. Shahzad also contended that none of the witnesses in the case have given any description of the occupants of the flat in which the alleged shootout took place.
In the final arguments, the prosecution said it has sufficient circumstantial evidence and phone records to prove that accused Shahzad was present in the Jamia Nagar flat and was among those who fired at the police. They said Shahzad, along with Junaid, had jumped off the balcony and fled after firing at the police.
Shahzad is said to be one of the occupants of the flat in Jamia Nagar where the encounter took place on September 19, 2008 between officers of the Special Cell of Delhi Police and the alleged Indian Mujahideen operatives. The IM operatives are said to be involved in the September 13, 2008 serial blasts at Karol Bagh, Connaught Place, Greater Kailash and India Gate which left 26 dead and 133 injured. Other accused named in the chargesheet are Mohd Saif, Mohd Atif Ameen alias Bashir and Mohd Sajid. While Saif had surrendered, the other two had been shot dead in the encounter.
The defence claimed that as per ballistic reports the bullets found in the slain police officer's body matched the gun seized from the spot and not from the weapon which was seized from his possession when he was arrested. Shahzad also contended that none of the witnesses in the case have given any description of the occupants of the flat in which the alleged shootout took place.
