Batla House encounter: No description of accused by witnesses

NEW DELHI: Suspected Indian Mujahideen operative Shahzad Ahmad, facing trial in the 2008 Batla House encounter case, today claimed before a Delhi court that the witnesses have not given any description of the occupants of the flat in which the alleged shootout took place.

The counsel for accused Shahzad, in his final arguments before Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri, said no passersby or locals were asked to join the raiding team.

"No prosecution witnesses have given any description of the alleged assailants/occupants of the flat in the FIR," the defence counsel argued.

He also contended the police should have asked the locals or the passersby to join their operation so that trial during the prosecution would have called them as an eyewitness to the whole shootout.

The counsel also submitted there is no evidence of Shahzad's presence except his passport.

"Where were his clothes or other belongings if he was staying in the flat"? he added.

The final arguments on behalf of the counsel for Shahzad will continue tomorrow. The prosecution had completed its submission on July 2.