Mumbra fumes, residents say Ishrat turned in to a 'product'

The revelations about Ishrat Jahan by 26/11 terror accused David Headley on Thursday led to an outrage in Mumbra, with many residents opining that the politicians turned her into a packaged "product" to be used for political mileage.

Ishrat Jahan was shot in an encounter in 2004. The Gujarat High Court and CBI submitted a report, stating that she was innocent, leading to the arrest of police officials involved in the encounter. "Every now and then, Ishrat's name comes to the fore during a trial or terror probe, and only then the politicians feel the need to meet and speak to her family members but. Rest of the time, her family suffers behind the scenes," said a close family friend.

"The fake encounter case has turned Ishrat into a packaged product, to be used again and again for political mileage, while nothing has been turned to make sure that her family lives in peace," the friend added.

"Ishrat's ailing mother lives in rented apartments and has to shift after the lease agreement ends. They could have at least provided a residence for her mother, instead of starting an ambulance service in her memory," said Rafique Qureshi, a resident of Mumbra and a real estate agent.

When this correspondent contacted the number mentioned on the ambulance, it turned out to be wrong. The ambulance service was started in the memory of Ishrat by My Mumbra Foundation in 2011 and continues to ferry patients to hospitals.

Rauf Lala Khan, president of My Mumbra Foundation, said, "We could do very little to make sure Ishrat lives in our memory. She is a Shahid and will be in our hearts always."