Azamgarh: On the 17th anniversary of the Batla House encounter, the Rashtriya Ulema Council staged a protest demanding a judicial investigation into the controversial incident. A memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister was submitted to the District Magistrate.
Council’s state president Anil Singh said the encounter of September 19, 2008, was carried out by Delhi Police at the behest of the then Congress government. He alleged it was a conspiracy to shield the ruling party after a series of bomb blasts. Singh noted that two young Muslims, Atif and Sajid, were killed along with a police inspector, while many others were implicated in false cases that destroyed their lives.
He recalled that the Council had opposed the encounter from Azamgarh to Delhi and had demanded a judicial inquiry, which had gained support from citizens across communities. According to him, the United Progressive Alliance government’s refusal to order an inquiry undermined democracy.
National secretary Mohammed Naseem highlighted that under Section 176 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, any death in a police encounter must be investigated by a magistrate. He stressed that despite the deaths of a police officer and two students, neither Congress nor BJP governments ordered an inquiry. Even leaders who had raised questions before elections, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, did not act once in power.
The Council declared it would continue raising the demand until the government accepts it, emphasizing that justice is essential for true equality.
