Ansal Plaza puzzle

It would be wholly irresponsible and highly premature at this juncture to venture an opinion on the veracity of the charge. However, there can be no doubt that if the nation’s battle against terrorism is to appear credible and just, several questions that have arisen about Sunday’s operation need to be answered.

The doubts seem to fall into two broad categories. One, the actual circumstances of the operation. For instance, if the encounter was a genuine one and the two alleged terrorists had returned the police fire, how was it that police personnel who had formed a ring around them escaped with no injury?

The other aspect concerns the identity of the two men. There is need for definitive data on their background. Are they from Pakistan or from Mumbai? Who were the people lending them logistical support? These are just some questions from a whole host of others that have arisen and they demand answers.

Delhi Joint Commissioner Neeraj Kumar has stated for the record how perturbed the police is over the way the whole incident is now being projected by some vested interests. In an open society like India’s, this is bound to be the case when an incident as serious as the Ansal Plaza encounter surfaces, and Kumar is quite right when he apprehends that ‘vested interests’ may take advantage of the issue.

But it is precisely for this reason that the Delhi police must now produce credible information to counter the possible designs of ‘vested interests’.

Fortunately, some progress has been achieved. After receiving the NHRC’s direction, the Delhi Police has committed itself to protecting the life of the eyewitness and making available to the Commission a full police report on the incident in a week’s time.

Meanwhile, it is extremely important to ensure that the confusion over this case does not undermine the nation’s resolve in fighting terrorism or lead to demoralisation in the ranks of those who are required to man the frontlines of the battle against the terrorist.