A Delhi court on Monday, 8 March, convicted Ariz Khan, an alleged Indian Mujahideen terrorist, in a case related to the 2008 Batla House encounter, noting that he intentionally caused the murder of encounter specialist and Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma.
The Special Cell of Delhi Police had carried out an encounter in Jamia Nagar's Batla House on 19 September 2008, in which two suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists and Inspector Sharma died.
Ariz Khan was arrested in February 2018, a decade after allegedly being on the run after the encounter at L-18 in Batla House.
"Khan, along with his associates, voluntarily caused grievous hurt to public servants. The accused intentionally and voluntarily caused murder of Inspector MC Sharma by use of gunshot," said Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Yadav.
The judge said that Khan and his associates also caused hurt to head constables Balwant Singh and Rajbir Singh.
The judge further said that the evidence produced on record leaves no matter of doubt that the prosecution has proved the case beyond all reasonable doubt and that the accused is liable to be convicted.
The court will hear the arguments on the point of sentencing on 15 March at 12 noon. It has also directed the investigating officer to conduct an enquiry to ascertain the financial ability of Khan and his family to give compensation to the victims.
What Has Ariz Khan Been Convicted Under?
Ariz has been convicted under section 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant), 302 (murder).
He has also been held guilty under 307 (attempt to murder), 174(a) (Non-appearance in response to a proclamation) 34 (criminal intention) of the Indian Penal Code and 27 (using any prohibited weapons) of the Arms Act.
Ariz is allegedly associated with the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen. Police claimed that he was present at Batla House, along with four others, and managed to give police a slip during the encounter.
As per the statements issued during Khan’s arrest in 2018, the police had said that Khan is an expert bomb maker, executioner and conspirator, and had been wanted for his involvement in various bomb blast cases in Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Uttar Pradesh.
Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) AT Ansari represented the Delhi Police, while advocate MS Khan represented Ariz Khan during trial proceedings in the matter.
Of the five men residing in the apartment in Batla House, Mohammed Sajid and Atif Amin were killed during the encounter, Junaid and Shahzad Ahmad fled and were caught years later, while Mohammad Saif surrendered to the police.
A trial court had in July 2013 sentenced Indian Mujahideen terrorist Shahzad Ahmed to life imprisonment in connection with the case.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)