In his deposition to India, the US terrorist turned approver David Headley said that Ishrat Jahan Raza, the 19 year old girl, killed in 2004 in what CBI in fact concluded was a fake encounter was a member of women’s wing of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The claims of Headley have again sparked a debate on the entire matter on Ishrat Jahan’s alleged connections with a terror group. However many ex-cops from Gujarat have raised doubts over the claims made by Headley. RB Sreekumar who had served as additional director general of Gujarat police in the intelligence department questioned the revelations made by Headley in an open letter. According to Caravan Magazine, Sreekumar argued that no “purposeful investigation” is possible based on Headley’s deposition.
Utilising each point of Headley’s revelations, no purposeful investigation is possible because he religiously avoided data about present whereabouts, resources, associates and future plans of the terrorists of LeT and its sister organisations. Information on terrorists who were killed in police action is not of much use. But those planers and perpetrators of fake encounters can build up further on their defense and their political friends can boast about the feasibility and effectiveness of their counter terrorist propaganda.RB Sreekumar in an open letter published in The Caravan
Sreekumar also said that Headley’s revelations was obviously music to BJP leaders or DG Vanzara, former Deputy Inspector General of Gujarat Police who was allegedly involved in the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter.
Of course, his (Headley’s) statement was music to the ears of the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and for those who organise fake encounters such as DG Vanzara, the former Deputy Inspector General of Gujarat Police. In his resignation letter in 2013, Vanzara had confirmed that the encounters were carried out in pursuance of a well-conceived strategic policy formulated by the Modi government.RB Sreekumar in his open letter.
Sreekumar also pointed out that the CBI has found no investigational proof to support the claims made by Headley.
The Central Bureau of Investigation could not trace out the source of the AK 47 rifle recovered from Ishrat. Did Ishrat have the skill and expertise to operate the weapon? Who were her supporters and what was their game plan? So far, there has been no collateral, corroborative or circumstantial evidence to support either Headley’s claims regarding Ishrat, or to reveal more information about his own crimes.RB Sreekumar in his open letter.
Read the full letter here.
Also read:
Headley’s ‘Ishrat Jahan Was LeT Operative’ Comment Sparks a Row
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