Gujarat minister in fake kill case?

ENCOUNTERING CONTROVERSY: Cong demands Guj minister Amit Shah's resignation.

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Keywords: Narendra Modi, Fake Encounter

Ahmedabad: The arrest of three IPS officers in Gujarat in connection with a 2002 fake encounter has now taken a political twist.

Congress has alleged that Minster of State for Home Amit Shah is also responsible for the murder of Sohrabuddin Sheikh who was gunned down after being suspected of being an operative of terror outfir Lashkar-e-Toiba.

The Congress is basing its claim on a petition filed in court. However, a copy of the CID report available with CNN-IBN does not name Amit Shah as protecting the guilty police officers.

But former director of Gujarat anti-terrorist squad and one of those arrested on Tuesday DG Vanjara was said to be close to Shah.

Congress has now openly alleged that the officers eliminated Sheikh on Shah's instructions and is vehemently demanding his resignation.

The accused officers will be in police custody till May 1 after being arrested on charges of being involved in a fake encounter involving the Sheikh’s death.

“On instructions of Modi, Amit Shah asked his sharp shooters to kill Sheikh. It is necessary to carry on narco-analysis test on Modi and Shah,” said Leader of Oppsition in Gujarat Legislative Assembly, Arjun Modhvadia

In the original petition by Sheikh's brother Rubabuddin, Shah's name figures as the one who was contacted by the Gujarat builder lobby to get rid of Sheikh, allegedly an extortionist.

Former Additional Director General of Gujarat police R B Sreekumar says there is tremendous political pressure on police officials.

“Yes, there is always pressure from political leadership. There is chamchagiri (sycophancy) concept in Gujarat police force,” said retired additional DGP, Gujarat, R B Sreekumar.

But the man at the centre of this controversy, Amit Shah has refused to talk on the issue. “Go and speak to Mathur (Additional Director General of police intelligence),” he said

It's an election year in Gujarat and the issue is bound to rake up much political heat and dust.