The Hindu : New Delhi News : Demand for judicial probe into Jamia Nagar encounter

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Thursday, Sep 25, 2008
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Demand for judicial probe into Jamia Nagar encounter

Demanding a judicial inquiry into the Batla House encounter in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar this past week, the Students’ Federation of India has said that “only a thorough and independent probe” into the incident can put to rest all speculation, claims and counter-claims.

“The encounter in which two alleged terrorists were killed had raised several questions. Arrests following the encounter have added to the tension in the Jamia Nagar area. We demand that a judicial inquiry be instituted at the earliest,” said P.K. Anand, president of the SFI unit at JNU.

“There can be no two views about the fact that strong steps need to be taken to combat terrorist activities in our country…. What we are witnessing instead is that every other claim of nabbing the ‘masterminds’ of terror attacks by various State police departments is being followed by another terrorist strike,” said Roshan Kishore, secretary of the unit.

“We demand that the police disclose all the arrests made in connection with the Delhi blasts in a transparent manner. We appeal to all secular and democratic minded sections to stand behind the Muslim community of Jamia Nagar and ensure that the due process of law and justice is not subverted in the name of fighting terror,” said the SFI in a statement.

Aligarh Muslim University has instituted an international award for literature in the name of its founder. The “Sir Syed Ahmed Khan International Award” is aimed at propagating scholarship, creativity, literary dexterity and education propagated by its founder.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs.5 lakh. It will be given every year on Sir Syed Day observed on October 17, said Vice-Chancellor P.K. Abdul Azis.

The University has invited nominations from all those who have undertaken work that promotes the vision and mission of Sir Syed. The award will be decided by a national-level jury comprising eminent personalities.

Sadaf Fatima, a student of the Department of Geology at AMU, has secured the first position in the All-India Geologists Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.

Six other AMU students have also been selected.

In the wake of the bomb blasts in different cities of the country, a panel discussion was organised on “Serial bomb blasts and politics of terrorism” by the Intellectual Forum for Secularism, Democracy and Social Justice (IFSDSJ) and Millet Bedari Muhim Committee (MBMC) at AMU this past week.

During his presentation, Arshi Khan of the Political Science Department at AMU accused the Sangh Parivar of politics of terrorism. He analysed the forces that are “determined to cash in on the deaths of the innocent victims of the blasts”.

IFSDSJ president Shamim Ahmad suggested establishment of a Genocide Commission and National Commission for the Investigation of Bomb Blasts Cases and Terrorism, while MBMC president Jasim Mohammad spoke of the need to strengthen secularism.

Aimed at creating awareness about the Right to Information Act among the teaching and non-teaching employees, a two-day training programme was organised by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in Delhi earlier this week. The objective was to sensitise the employees about the role and importance of the RTI Act and promote greater efficiency in handling the RTI applications received at the University.

The first day of the training was meant for officials and deans of the University Schools of Studies and directors of its affiliated institutions. Section officers and the supporting staff participated the next day.

Parul Sharma

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