By IANS,
New Delhi : All India Anti Terrorist Front (AIATF) chief M.S. Bitta Thursday criticised the leaders of political parties for questioning the authenticity of the Sep 19 Jamia Nagar shootout in which two suspected terrorists were killed, saying such queries would “demoralise” the security forces and terrorism would prosper.
A decorated Delhi Police inspector M.C. Sharma was also killed in the shootout in Jamia Nagar.
“Our political leaders don’t care about anything. One can just imagine the condition of M.C. Sharma’s family when they see leaders talking like this for political gains,” said Bitta at a function at Vigyan Bhavan here.
Several political parties and rights groups have questioned the veracity of the shootout and demanded a judicial probe.
The function to mark Anti Terrorist Day was organised by AIATF.
“People are saying that it (Jamia Nagar firefight) was a fake encounter. If it was, then who killed Sharma? If political parties continue these kind of discussions, then our forces will get demoralized and then it would take hundreds of years to remove terrorism,” he added.
M.C. Sharma’s father, Narottam Sharrma, was given the ‘Pride of Nation’ award and a shawl while his mother, Devindari Sharma, was presented an idol of Lord Ganesha. Sharma’s five sisters were presented with a national flag each.
Former top cop K.P.S. Gill, playback singer Sonu Nigam and former intelligence bureau director A.K. Doval were present on the occasion.
The front also gave away bravery awards to Sunita Suri, wife of Sanjeev Suri, who lost his life while saving people from the notorious Bunty Gang. She was also given a cheque of Rs.51,000.
Twelve-year-old Rahul, the balloon seller who provided vital information to police about the terrorists who had kept a bomb at Barakhamba Road Sep 13, was also rewarded. He was given a cheque of Rs.25,000.
Chairman of the Karol Bagh Market Association Ramlal was given a bravery award for helping the Karol Bagh bomb blast victims.
The front also felicitated Manisha Michael, who lost her parents in the October 2005 pre-Diwali blasts.
The front adopted two children Simran and Rahul, who lost their fathers in the Sep 13 blasts at Karol Bagh. They were also given a cheque of Rs.100,000 each.
The mother of Santosh, the boy who was killed in the Mehrauli bomb blast on Sep 27, was felicitated by the AIATF.