Gujarat govt. submits status report on fake encounter case

The Gujarat Government submitted its report in connection with the Sohrabbudin Sheikh fake encounter case in the Supreme Court today.

New Delhi, May 14 : The Gujarat Government submitted its report in connection with the Sohrabbudin Sheikh fake encounter case in the Supreme Court today.

According to the media, more arrests are likely in connection with the case. The report has also rejected the need for a CBI inquiry.

So far, one confessional statement has been recorded and some telephonic conversation has confirmed the involvement of the accused in the case, the report said.

The hearing of the case will now take place on Tuesday.

Earlier, the Gujarat Government had admitted to the apex court about its collusion in the death of Kausar Bi, wife of the fake encounter victim Sohrabuddin. She was first killed and then her corpse was burnt a few days after her husband was killed in a fake encounter.

Meanwhile, a two-member Gujarat Crime Investigation Department (CID) team headed by Inspector General of Police Geeta Johri has started investigating the role of Andhra Pradesh Police in the case.

Andhra Pradesh Police, however, deny any involvement in the case.

The team has already submitted its report to the apex court.

The present probe has led to the arrest of three police officers - DIG (Border Range) DG Vanzara, Pandian and Alwar Superintendent MN Dinesh Kumar.

Vanzara and Pandian were part of the team that killed Sheikh. They have also been accused of killing Kausar Bi.

Sheikh was reportedly gunned down on November 26, 2005 after being branded a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant by the Gujarat Police, allegedly trying to hatch a conspiracy to kill Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The probe revelation has raised a debate across the country over staged encounters by security forces at the behest of their political bosses.

ANI