New Delhi: Congress on Friday said that it
was not asking for a judicial enquiry into the Batla encounter
but wanted a speedy trial of the accused following reports
claiming that the post-mortem findings of terrorists killed in
the shootout did not corroborate the police theory.
"We are not asking for a judicial enquiry...The NHRC
enquired into it. The High Court and the Supreme Court have
not accepted demand for judicial enquiry," AICC General
Secretary Digvijay Singh told reporters here.
Singh, who had initially raised doubts about the
encounter and wanted an enquiry, said the issue has been
debated widely and it was not important to go for a judicial
enquiry.
Referring to the Liberhan Commission report, he said
it took 17 years to come to a conclusion which was known even
earlier.
"What is important now is that the boys named in it
should be tried speedily. If they are guilty, they should be
given strict punishment. If they are innocent, they should be
released," he said.
The Congress leader, who is also the General Secretary
in-charge of UP, said that the party wants that all teror
realted cases pertaining to those who hail from Azamgarh
should be clubbed together and there should be a speedy trial.
Singh said he has already met Law Minister M Veerappa
Moily and Home Minister P Chidambaram and placed the demand
before them.
He said there are 26 youth names from Azamgarh and
nearby villages and more than 50 cases in six cities and four
states have been lodged against them.
Asked about the progress made on his suggestion to
club the cases, Singh said, "It can be done.... The Supreme
Court has to agree and the government has to take a view."
Singh wanted the NIA to take the investigations in
all the cases where chargesheets have not been filed so far.
Some party leader, however, have raised doubts about
the veracity of the police story in the Batla House encounter.
"Personally, I am not convinced," a senior leader
remarked on condition of anonymity.
A controversy had erupted over the killing of two
suspected Indian Mujahiddeen militants Mohammed Atif Amin and
Mohammed Sajid in an encounter at the Batla House in Jamia
Nagar on September 19, 2008, five days after the serial blasts
in the capital, after their neighbours and relatives claimed
they were innocent.
The Congress had then asked for an enquiry to put at
rest all speculation on the issue.
PTI
