NCM to submit report on Batla House encounter

NEW DELHI: With questions being raised on the September 19 police encounter in Batla House, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has decided to submit a fact-finding report in this regard to the government in the next fortnight. The Commission may also demand for an independent inquiry into the whole episode.

"A report has been prepared on the basis of statements of eye-witnesses, local people and family members of the deceased youths. It is some sort of fact finding. The report will be discussed in the full bench meeting of the Commission tomorrow and then submitted to the government," NCM Chairman Md Shafi Qureshi told the media.

Emphasising that there should be transparency in the investigations carried out by police and other agencies, the NCM chairman said, "People should also know what the agencies are doing. If the Commission feels that an inquiry is required, we will ask for the same by the agencies concerned or the NCM itself will do it in its own way."

Two youths, suspected as Indian Mujahideen terrorists, were shot dead in the police encounter. A well-known Inspector of Delhi Police Mohan Chand Sharma was also killed in the encounter. After questions were raised by the locals about the genuineness of the encounter and the police theory of the incident, an NCM team led by its Chairman Qureshi visited the Jamia Millia University in October and held a detailed discussion over the issue. NCM members Zoya Hasan, Dileep Padgaonkar and Harcharan Singh Josh accompanied the Commission Chairman during the visit.