Fake encounter: Guj ATS policemen sent to judicial custody

AHMEDABAD: The three policemen of Gujarat's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), arrested in connection with the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a fake encounter, were sent to judicial custody by a court on Monday.

Inspector N H Dabhi, constables Ajay Parmar and Santram Sharma were produced before a magistrate by the state CID (Crime), which is probing the case.

They were arrested for their alleged role in the killing of Sheikh who was shot dead in a joint operation by Gujarat ATS and Rajasthan Police near Vishala circle on the city outskirts in November 2005.

The investigating agency is also probing the role of these policemen in the murder of Sohrabuddin's wife Kausar Bi who is believed to have been killed and her body burnt by the police.

Police have so far arrested six persons, including suspended IPS officer and former head of ATS D G Vanzara, his former deputy Rajkumar Pandian and Rajasthan cadre IPS officer M N Dinesh.

The three IPS officers were arrested on April 24.

Meanwhile, the prosecution's application seeking to conduct narco-analysis test on the three arrested ATS officials is expected to come up for hearing on May 25.

A similar plea for the narco-analysis of the three IPS officials will also be heard on that day.

Vanzara and the two IPS officers are presently lodged in the Sabarmati Central jail.