He went to Delhi to study computers, joined English course, we talked yesterday: Saif’s father

“When I called my son and found his phone switched off, I knew something was wrong,” says Shadab Ahmed, the Samajwadi Party vice-president of Azamgarh in Sanjarpur in Sarai Meer.

Ahmed’s son Saif was injured and arrested in the encounter in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar today while Saif’s roommate Atif was killed.

The other killed in today’s shootout, Sajid, too was from Sanjarpur. Sources said all three come from “well-off families.” Sajid’s uncle is a magistrate in Bhadohi. Atif’s father Ameen is based in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra where he has a handloom business. DIG of the Uttar Pradesh ATS Rajiv Krishna said that the three had been staying in Delhi for two years.

Shadab Ahmed learnt of his son Saif’s arrest from TV. In fact, the UP Home Department, DGP Headquarters, the ATS, and the Azamgarh police — all said they got no official inquiries from the Delhi police. ADG (Law & Order) Brij Lal said they contacted the Delhi Police Special Cell only after hearing about the encounter.

“My son Saif had gone to Delhi to do a computer course. Instead, he had joined an English-speaking course. ‘You have to know English to learn computers,’ he told me,” says Ahmed, who says he last spoke to his son yesterday.

“They (the police) are only targeting educated boys. My son had done his MA privately from Poorvanchal University while 3 friends: SP leader’s son, magistrate’s nephew, businessman’s son Atif was studying in Delhi,” says Ahmed.

... contd.