RUBABUDDIN Sheikh, brother of Sohrabuddin who was killed in a fake encounter on the outskirts of the city in November 2005, wants further investigation into the case to be conducted by an agency other than the Gujarat Police.

After the Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the state government asking it why the probe not be handed over to Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by R K Raghavan, Rubabbuddin told The Indian Express over phone from Jhaniya in Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh that a proper probe was possible only if the case was assigned to some other agency.

Sohrabuddin was gunned down by a team of Gujarat and Rajasthan police on November 26, 2005. However, the cops claimed he was killed in an encounter and that Sohrabuddin was on a mission to kill Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Three days later, Sohrabuddin’s wife Kausar Bi was also killed and her body burnt.

“I am only interested in getting justice for the murderers of my brother and sister-in-law, it is immaterial who delivers it,” said Rubabuddin, however, clarifying “it is for the court to decide whom to hand over the probe to”.

He alleged that the probe conducted by the Gujarat Police was not fair though a total of 13 policemen, including IPS officers D G Vanzara, Rajkumar Pandian and Dinesh M N were arrested following investigations by DIG Geetha Johri. Pointing out loopholes, he said the chargesheet did not name the owner of the bike driven by Sohrabuddin at the time of encounter. Besides, it did not mention why and how Kausar Bi was killed and also avoided mentioning his (Rubabuddin’s) telephone conversation with Sohrabuddin on November 22 and 23 after he was picked up. “Had these facts been included it would have further strengthened the case”, he said.

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