By IANS,
New Delhi : A team of Delhi Police’s Crime Branch and forensic experts faced an irate group of residents when they went to Jamia Nagar Monday to examine the L-18 Batla House apartment where two suspected terrorists were gunned down last month in a shootout that some allege was stage-managed.
The team, accompanied by a woman director of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, was stopped on its way by a former councillor of the area, Asif Mohammad, and his supporters.
Mohammad alleged that police were visiting the house to “destroy” the evidence of the “fake encounter”. His supporters raised slogans against the police.
“Mohammad waylaid them and asked the officers why they were there and what they were doing. He raised strong objections to our people investigating the case,” said a police officer.
The Crime Branch has registered a case into the Sep 19 shootout. Two suspected terrorists believed to be involved in the Sep 13 Delhi bombings were killed in the shootout with Delhi Police Special Cell Inspector M.C. Sharma was also killed in the incident.
Members of the resident welfare association (RWA) led by local leader Naeem objected to Mohammad’s stalling the police team and asked him not to interfere in the police investigations.
Fearing that the situation could turn ugly, additional police forces were called to the area.
According to reports, Jama Masjid chief cleric Imam Bukhari was called to intervene by the supporters of Mohammad. However, police refused to confirm whether he went to Batla House.
“The police detained the Shahi Imam and did not allow him to reach the spot.
He was stopped close to the Holy Family hospital. This is injustice,” one of
Mohammad’s supporters said.