Thane, November 22
Demanding a CBI probe into the case, Ishrat Jehan’s family today said the SIT’s finding on the 2004 police encounter has vindicated their stand that she was innocent.

“I have been always saying that my daughter is not at fault and this has been proved by the SIT report. Our demand for CBI probe into the killing is still pending,” Ishrat’s mother Shamima Kausar told a news conference here.

Ishrat, a 19-year-old college girl who hailed from Mumbra on the outskirts of Mumbai, along with Javed Sheikh, alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjad Ali Rana and Zeeshan Johar was killed in a shootout by Ahmedabad Crime Branch on June 15, 2004.

“Considering the stigma and ordeal we underwent, we want that all those involved in the killing should be brought to book and given capital punishment,” said Raza Anwar Iqbal, brother of Ishrat Jehan.

Local MLA Jitendra Awhad demanded the IB report cited by the Gujarat Police stating that Ishrat and others were terrorists on a mission to kill Narendra Modi, be verified.

“Chief Minister Narendra Modi should also be brought under the purview of the examination,” he added.

In a setback to the Narendra Modi government, the Special Investigation Team yesterday stated that Ishrat was killed in a fake encounter, prompting the Gujarat High Court to order a fresh FIR against accused policemen in the case. — PTI