“What did Modi get by killing my daughter?,” this was the first reaction of Shamima Kausar, mother of Ishrat Jahan, on Monday after Special Investigation Team concluded that the police encounter in which she and three others were killed was fake.
On June 15, 2004, 19-year-old Ishrat and three others were killed during an encounter with police of Ahmedabad Crime Branch on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. Gujarat police had alleged that the youths were LeT members and were on a mission to kill chief minister Narendra Modi. “The allegations of Gujarat police that my daughter had links with the LeT killed us every day for the past five years,” Shamima said.
Ishrat was a resident of Mumbra and a student of Khalsa College. “I know that the court’s decision or SIT report cannot bring our daughter back but it was our faith in this country’s judiciary system which helped us fight for five years,” Shamima said.
On Monday, it was celebration time in Mumbra. People burst crackers and distributed sweets. Ishrat’s family burnt the effigy of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. “We were confident about Ishrat’s innocence,” she said.
“It is the victory of a mother against the powerful. I appreciate her will power to fight against injustice,” said MLA Jitendra Awhad.
The family is angry with those behind the fake encounter. “We want all those involved in this matter to be hanged till death. Even Modi should be hanged for this inhuman act,” said Anwar, Ishrat’s brother.
As for Ishrat’s mother, she cannot stop crying. “I want my daughter back,” she said.
Comments: 1