By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: In a surprising move the state Criminal Investigative Department (CID), on 22nd of May recommended the Khawaja Yunus case to any ‘independent’ investigative agency probably referring to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), excusing itself from the probe into the alleged involvement of fourteen police officers into the ‘murder’ of Khawaja Yunus.
The Maharashtra Police had arrested Khawaja Yunus in connection with the Ghatkopar Bomb Blast 2002, in which according to the reports, two persons were killed and fifty injured. Khawaja Yunus was a gulf based NRI software Engineer who died in police custody in January 2003 because of the alleged brutal torture. It is important to mention here that the special POTA court acquitted all eight people suspected to be involved in the Ghatkopar Bomb Blast 2002 case, including Dr Abdul Mateen, who was alleged to be the mastermind behind the blasts, as the police were unable to provide any concrete evidence linking the accused persons to the crime.
As far as the mysterious death of the NRI software engineer Khawaja Yunus in police custody is concerned fourteen police officers are suspected to be involved in his custodial murder. The state CID sought permission from the state government to proceed with the case against all the suspected police personals, but the state government gave permission to go ahead with the case only against the four officers including Sachin Vijay.
In a letter written to the state government and the Director General of Police of Maharashtra, the CID has clearly stated that this case should be handed over to any ‘independent’ investigative agency, so that the suspected police officers who are said to have high connections, may not influence the investigative process.
The decision to refer the case was taken by the additional Director General of Police (CID) S.P.Yadav, after the A.S.P. S.P. Bhawsker, and S.P. Vijay Patil presented a sealed report to him. In the report the excuse from further proceedings in the case by the CID and the reasons for the recommendation of the case to an ‘independent’ investigative agency are cited in detail.
Talking to media persons the CID officials acknowledged the complexity yet at the same time seriousness of the death probe of Khawaja Yunus. They also accepted the failure of the CID in collecting relevant evidence against the concerned police officials.
The frank but typically pathetic acceptance by Maharashtra CID about its failure to bring the police officer responsible for the brutal murder of Mr.Yunus, to book is a clear indictment of the police.
It shows how easy it is for the police to brutally torture and murder an innocent person in custody, and more easy to get away with it; who cares any way for a person who is labeled as ‘terror suspects’.