* ATR: police officer admits to role * J. Venkatesan
15/5/07 the hindu http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/15/stories/2007051506040100.htm * We will do a competent job, says Johri * ------------------------------ * * *"Probe consistent, points to guilt of the accused" * *Rubabuddin submits fresh material * ------------------------------ New Delhi: The Gujarat government on Monday filed an action taken report (ATR) stating one of the arrested police officers had given a confessional statement about his role in the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a fake encounter. The case comes up for hearing on Tuesday. On May 3, while admitting the petition filed by Rubabuddin Sheikh, brother of Sohrabuddin, demanding a CBI probe into the killings of his brother and sister-in-law Kausarbi, the Supreme Court directed the Gujarat Government to file a status report on the investigation. Accordingly, senior counsel K.T.S. Tulsi handed over the ATR, in a sealed cover, to a Bench consisting of Justices Tarun Chatterjee and P.K. Balasubramanyan. In its report, the government is understood to have said it obtained records of telephonic conversations of the accused before and after the commission of the offence. The statements given by witnesses fully corroborated these. One of the police officers, whose statement was recorded under Section 164 Cr.PC, confessed to his role in the killing of Sohrabuddin. Seven persons were arrested so far and some more arrests would be made shortly. Scientific evidence of the burnt pieces of the body of Kausarbi was awaited in four weeks. The investigation was consistent and pointed to the guilt of the accused. Practice in State Along with the ATR were enclosed the interim reports of senior IPS officer Geetha Johri, who was in charge of the investigation initially. On the reasons for her removal, the ATR said it was the normal practice in Gujarat that a preliminary enquiry would be conducted by one police officer and further investigation would be done by another officer to maintain objectivity. However, taking into consideration the court's observations, she was again entrusted with the investigation to prove "our bona fides." Some more time was needed to complete the investigation, the ATR said and opposed a CBI probe. Truth will be out In her report, Ms. Johri is understood to have assured the court that investigation would proceed without fear or favour. The truth would be unearthed and all those found guilty punished. "The State police will do a perfect and competent job." The ATR, explaining Ms. Johri's Andhra Pradesh visit, said the involvement of the police of that State was being looked into and "we have yet to narrow down on the persons involved in the incident." Meanwhile, Rubabuddin Sheikh filed an additional affidavit, enclosing fresh material, for a CBI probe. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. It is a battle for freedom. It is a battle for the reclamation of human personality." - Dr BR Ambedkar ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ greenyouth mailinglist is the activist support mailinglist for kerala run by Global Alternate Information Applications (GAIA) To post to this group, send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
