Was UP official killed for Ayodhya links?

NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW, JULY 5: A day after the High Court ordered the Delhi police to investigate into the death of a senior official of the U...

NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW, JULY 5: A day after the High Court ordered the Delhi police to investigate into the death of a senior official of the Uttar Pradesh Government on April 30, the police are taking a fresh look at what was initially dismissed as an accident8217;. The police have been directed to file a report on the death of OSD Subhash Bhan Sadh, an officer with the UP Home Department by August 22.

According to a petition filed by the victim8217;s father Bir Bhan Shad, his son was carrying top secret files relating to the Babri Masjid demolition when he boarded the Kanshi-Vishwanath Express in Lucknow on April 30. He was to appear before the Liberhan Ayodhya Commission the next day. But that never happened as Subhash met with an accident just before the train arrived at the New Delhi station. The files, the petition said, are missing.

However, the UP Home Department denies it. 8220;It is true that his father has expressed fear that he was murdered but I do not find truth in the allegations. If he was carrying something, that could be only extracts,8221; said VK Mittal, Principal Secretary Home.

The Home department officials in Lucknow are not ready to talk at length on the issue. After his death, the department hurriedly8217; checked all the files and ensured that no files related the to Babri Masjid demolition were missing. Though his colleagues refuse to come on record, they insist that all files are intact. 8220;If he was carrying a few, those could have been Xeroxsic copies,8221; said a secretary. 8220;The role of a Home department official in the Liberhan Commission hearing is just of an observer and we never allow original files to be taken there,8221; added an IAS officer.

Subhash8217;s father alleged that his son was pushed from the running train when it slowed down at the Tilak Bridge railway station. He was crushed between the wall of the platform and the running train and died a day later.

The petitioner pointed out that although there were contact numbers of various officials and lawyers who he was supposed to meet regarding the case, the police made no attempt to contact anybody. In fact, it was only through an anonymous phone call to an advocate and family friend Randhir Jain, that the family was informed. The caller, who is untraceable till date, also told them that the victim had been taken to RML hospital.

Jain informed the victim8217;s father, who in turn informed the local relatives. When they reached the hospital, they were allegedly given wrong information. The petitioner alleged that Subhash was conscious in the hospital and told the relatives that he had been pushed from the running train. He is also reported to have said that the confidential files and other belongings fell in the station.

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The petitioner has alleged that the hospital authorities refused to respond to queries regarding his son8217;s health, and even refused to conduct the post-mortem until the Additional Resident Commissioner of UP intervened.

After the mourning period was over, the petitioner came to Delhi and tried to get information about the treatment given at the hospital and he also tried to retrieve his son8217;s belongings from the police but to no avail. When they were finally returned at the intervention of UP officials in mid-June, the files were missing.

Counsel for the petitioner, Randhir Jain said that the case should be handed over to an independent agency as it had not been investigated properly. Standing Counsel for the State, K C Mittal, said that although they had not suspected foul play initially, they would now initiate fresh investigations. The matter was heard by the division bench comprising Justice Usha Mehra and Justice S N Kapoor who issued notice to the authorities at the mortuary to explain their apathetic attitude.