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SOCIETY

a cognizable offence” even on “reason- • Rule of law Students of Jamia Millia
able suspicion”. It also protects them Islamia argue with Delhi Police during
from legal processes for actions taken recent protests in the campus
under the act.
♦ ♦ ♦
Don’t know how many encounter
survivors have been left alive enough to
write the actual details of the encoun-
ter…I have come across only one such
survivor. In fact, one of the most chill-
ing descriptions of an encounter taking
place is detailed in the book written
by the victim himself, Mufti Abdul
Qayyum Ahmed Husain Mansuri, who
was implicated in the Akshardham
case, imprisoned for 11 years, till acquit-
ted by the Supreme Court of India .

had met and interviewed him two
summers back when his book was
I launched in New Delhi. Quoting his
encounter details from his book I Am
A Mufti & I Am Not A Terrorist 11 Years
Behind the Bars, “It was the cold night
of Thursday, 18 September 2003, I was counted some more names and said had passed by my head. After that
sleeping in Vanaar’s office in such posi- even after so many encounters what totally five fires were shot on my right
tion / condition that one of my hands harm the government and the court and left head and on the left and right
was cliffed and locked with the table. I done to me, on the contrary I was given of my legs ….
was asleep with great difficulty when bravery medal of ‘Puraskar’ and 51,000 “Until now, Mr AA Chauhan, being
one of the officers awakened me by — as an award. Today this encounter a silent audience in this blood shed-
kicking me on my back with his shoes. of yours is the sixth one .Tomorrow we ding drama, took entry on scene. He
Singhal was standing in front of me will give this story to the media and came forward and said, ‘Vanaar sahab
and the best kind of oudh’s fragrance newspapers that going for investiga- don’t kill him. I want to give him a last
was witting from his clothes. Behind tion in the case, on getting chance he chance, after talking to superior officer
Singhal, one face was seen. He was VD ran away, somehow he got a revolver .Then asked me, turning towards me —
Vanaar. On Singhal’s order, the hand from somewhere and fired on us and if you confess all that the superior office
cliff was unlocked from my hand .VD on back firing (from us) he was shot … says then I can save your life…”
Vanaar took me along and said, ‘come “The vehicle was stopped at one
on, its Sahab’s order today your en- place in the dark night. As per my as- ♦ ♦ ♦
counter has to be done. I was told you sumption it was some place behind the Leaving you with this verse of Habib
offer namaaz /salah for dead persons, airport, because the lights of the airport Jalib —
today offer namaaz for yourself. I was were seen from there, on both sides of Crime /
pushed to sit in a Tata Sumo …After the road there was the canal...Then they ‘Why did you allow yourself to be
misfiring on me on one or two places, led the vehicle deep inside on the other killed?’ /
Vanaar asked for the revolver from PSI, side of the canal, on the left side and all Is the charge for which I am billed./
RI Patel and after directing the vehicle the bravos got down from the vehicle Now lawyers are arguing amongst
(Tata Sumo ) on two, three roads, told after stopping it at a vast open space themselves: /
the driver to take it near the canal and they also got me down by pulling ‘This small trouble that the killer had
.On the way, Vanaar also narrated his my beard and abusing me … to take,/
legend of his mastery in encounters “Vanaar took out the revolver and This little dent that the dagger suf-
and the allotment of medals from the told his companions to move aside a fered, /
government. bit after he aimed the revolver on my Who should be made to
“He said: ‘See I have killed Hameed head …I was standing alive dumb with compensate?’
Lala .I have killed Ranapwala here on amazement and astonished, because
the stairs of the crime branch, and he the bullet did not strike my head but LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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