Minefield ahead for CBI on trail of Ishrat killers

“…these contradictions clearly reflect that neither Gopinath Pillai nor Shamima Kausar have chosen to disclose the correct facts relating to occupation,activities and movement of Javed and Ishrat. On account of fact,both Javed and Ishrat were involved in such activities disclosure of which would result in reflection of the bonafide of the police action against these four persons…”,Mani stated in the affidavit.

The affidavit also mentioned an investigation by the Pune police,which reportedly indicated that Amjad Ali alias Babbar,one of the two alleged Pakistani nationals killed in the alleged fake encounter,was present with Javed while he purchased the blue Indica car involved in the case. “Amjad Ali was a Pakistani LeT terrorist,and Ishrat and Javed keeping his company clearly proves they were working for the common mission of LeT,” the affidavit stated.

Mani also stated in the affidavit that Pune police had recovered documents related to the preparation of high explosive devices through commonly available chemicals,electronic circuits for timed detonation,advanced code sheets for communication,and code names assigned to various targets,including important political personalities,from the residence of Javed.

Giving details on the LeT links of the other two persons killed in the alleged fake encounter,the affidavit stated,“On June 25-28,J&K Police arrested a group of 18 LeT terrorists headed by their chief operational commander for central Kashmir Shahid Mehmud and his Pakistani associate Zahid Ahmed.”

“In their disclosures,they mentioned that Amjad Ali @ Babbar alias Salim had entered India under express instructions…for organising terrorist networks in Gujarat and Maharashtra…The other killed Pak national and LeT terrorist was Zeeshan Johar alias Janbaaz,who was also reported to have infiltrated from Pak-Occupied Kashmir into J&K.”

The Central government had also stated that after converting to Islam,Javed procured a fake passport in the name of Pranesh Pillai in 2003 from Kerala even though his original passport was valid till 2004. Presence of Ishrat with Javed has also been mentioned as a part of the LeT conspiracy to provide cover to Javed as that of a married couple while he moved across various parts of the country including Ahmedabad.

In September 29,2009,the Centre filed another affidavit through the same officer. Without disowning the intelligence inputs on the alleged terror links of the four killed in the encounter,it stated,“…the Central government was not concerned with the merits of the action taken by the Gujarat Police and anything stated in the affidavit was not intended to support or justify the action of the state police.”

A separate paragraph in the affidavit said,“The primary concern of the Central government was to see that the inputs gathered by the Indian security agencies and their efforts were not discredited.”