Ishrat has died a second death, says heartbroken mother
Nearly 12 years ago, Ishrat was killed by the Gujarat police. The Special Investigating Team submitted its report in the Gujarat High Court, saying she was innocent and leading to the arrest of some top police officials.
The startling revelation by terror accused David Headley, that Ishrat Jahan was a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) suicide bomber, has hit her family hard. Family friends are of the opinion that Headley was prompted to name her during the deposition, which was irrelevant, as the ongoing trial was about the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai and his role.
Nearly 12 years ago, Ishrat was killed by the Gujarat police. The Special Investigating Team submitted its report in the Gujarat High Court, saying she was innocent and leading to the arrest of some top police officials. In 2010, Headley named Ishrat as an LeT member and a fidayeen during interrogation by the FBI, but NIA said the statement was not relevant.
"Ishrat has been killed again. David is the terrorist, not my daughter. Not only us, but the probe teams and the courts had declared that it was a fake encounter. She had no links to LeT," Ishrat's mother Shamim Kausar told dna.
"She is innocent. This is an attempt to protect the officers involved in the fake encounter, but law will punish them. God will not forgive the killers of my daughter. We want her to rest in peace. Such incidents are affecting our will power to survive without her," she added.
Calling the incident an attempt to influence the reports submitted by the probe agencies, family friend Rauf Lala said, "Headley's trial is being conducted via video-conferencing from the US. A question related to the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case was not even required. The options given to Headley were very obvious. The government agencies should not rely on a terrorist's statement."
"We are following the case closely. Calling her a suicide bomber is a new low in the case. Our sentiments are hurt after this false allegation," he added.Allegations staged: Sister
Ishrat's sister Musharrat Jahan, while speaking to the correspondent from Patna, said, "It is unfortunate that yet again, there has been an attempt to tarnish my sister's name. Ishrat is innocent, and the government would be foolish if they believe a terrorist's statement. This is the second time that Headley has come forward with such allegations. They seem to be staged. We believe in justice and the Indian law system."