Bhopal encounter: Public meet, candlelight vigil held; CM's statement condemned

Correspondent

NewsBits.in

BHOPAL: Writers, activists, intellectuals and representatives of various political parties took part in the public meeting and the candlelight vigil against the recent encounter with eight suspected SIMI men.

During the meeting held in Bhopal, participants said that there were many contradictions in the statements of officials about the encounter.

Most of them demanded that probe must be held under the superivsion of a Supreme court judge. They also expressed concern over the situation that has arisen in the wake of the suspected SIMI men's encounter.

That a man lying on ground was fired upon showed that it was already decided that no one would remain alive, was one of the major concerns that come out from the meeting.

Also, the participants said that calling an under-trial person 'terrorist' is making a mockery of the judicial system. "In many cases ranging from Akshardham case to Manipur fake encounters, the accused were later acquitted".

"In many cases, it was found that in many cases people were framed. If media and political leaders use the term even before court's judgment comes, it is extremely worrying", they said.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's use of allegedly inflammatory langauge for apparently political gains was also condemned. The candelight vigil was held on Tuesday evening.

Renowned Hindi litterateur Rajesh Joshi, educationist Anil Sadgopal, senior journalist LS Herdenia, CPI-M state secretary Badal Saroj, CPI leader Shailendra Shaili, social activist Abdul Jabbar, former MLA Dr Sunilam, Vijay Kumar, Asha Mishra, Madhuri and many others including youths and students took part in the vigil.