In the last two years we had witnessed the volumes of twists and turns in the matters related to the Batla house encounter. It was I who personally felt necessary at that moment about an independent judicial enquiry into the encounter to clear all doubts. I raised questions because I had certain reservations about the approach of the inquiry. If the administration and police have nothing to hide, why were they shying away from an enquiry? The contradicting statements of the police and refusal of the government to order a judicial enquiry have raised doubts on the authenticity of the encounter. The investigation was shabby and cases the police have built up so hurriedly now that blows up and falls apart.
Since the day one I did have apprehension on the encounter and process of investigation. Then no one was there to support my observations and the law enforcement agency came out with their own version of theory. After me, many leaders tried to take advantage of the issue but lied low subsequently. Many feel an independent enquiry into this matter will affect the moral of police. But the question is we must know the real truth. That may be bitter and question the legality of the action. The Batla house encounter clearly indicates how fatal our system is. This exposes the system and how it functions with commotion. Every citizen has the right to know the truth and the justice should be given on that basis of facts. Innocent should not be punished and guilty should not be spared. The subject is not about the Hindus or Muslims but about the people who did it and we ought to know that. Covering up the matter yields no good for the civil society and in the process people will mistrust their confidence on the system.
The secretive report along with that post-mortem report that has come out through a RTI activist raised doubts from all quarters on the encounter where two youngsters from Azamgarh district were killed. But the NHRC has totally relied on the police theory despite of getting this latest fact and report, and is yet to make any efforts to bring out the truth. This apparently reemphasizes my earlier demand for a judicial enquiry into the encounter.
Some people blamed for politicising the issue but I confess that politics was no where in my mind when I demanded judicial probe of the Batla House encounter. But yes some politician did try to earn some brownies out of it when they asked for enquiry nearly 2 years after the incident, where were they for so long. One of them is General Secretary of a national party. Here, I would like to appreciate Sonia ji who also wanted a judicial inquiry on the incident but I learn that she could not pursue it because of certain administrative issue.
I understand that our armed forces have to operate under hostile situation and they are handicapped by the law while taking on terrorists. I strongly back them but at the same time I feel that they have to be sensitive and should take utmost care while dealing with such incidents so that no innocent gets victimised.
