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Initiative for Nationalism, Secularism and Affirmative Action Network (INSAAN) has been conceptualized to create a platform for the like minded people who think and promote the idea of social inclusion as the foundation for national public policy. INSAAN on the occasion of the third year of the Batla House Encounter has made an appeal to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to order an independent probe into the encounter.

 

To,

Dr. Manmohan Singh

Honourable Prime Minister,

Government of India, New Delhi.

 

Subject: Demand for an independent judicial inquiry into the Batla House Encounter

Dear Sir

Two young men were killed in the 2008 Batla House Police Encounter. 19 September of 2011 marks third year of this encounter. Unfortunately there has been no probe. As per the established practice of law and human rights standards as set by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) each police shoot out is subject to a magisterial inquiry.

The Batla House Encounter which happened in a south Delhi suburb of Jamia Nagar has evoked anger and anguish throughout the country. Batla House encounter serves as a crude reminder of unbridled state power against a hapless minority. This perception in the Muslim community is neither healthy nor productive for our secular society.

Both governments, at NCT Delhi and UPA-II, have shown extremely callous attitude towards the demand for an independent probe. You have been stressing on the need to deal with the alienation of Muslim youth but the denial to order a magisterial inquiry into the encounter has tarnished the image of the government as a protector of minority rights and liberty.

You have rightly acknowledged that Muslims have a negative perception towards the law enforcement agencies and this negative perception cannot be set right without an inquiry being ordered to the Batla House Encounter.

Batla House Encounter has done irreparable damage to the psyche of the Muslims in India and particularly in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Post Batla House Muslim youth suffer from a sense of paranoia and this fear will play out in the political field of Uttar Pradesh in the coming elections. Your government is requested to do the needful at the earliest so as to provide solace to the grieving parents and to the anguished community.

With regards and high hopes from hopes

Thanking you in anticipation

Kamala Kanta Dash and Afroz Alam Sahil, INSAAN