2. • Batla House encounter officially known
as Operation Batla House, took place on 19
September 2008, against suspected Indian
Mujahideen (IM) terrorists in Batla House
locality in Jamia Nagar, Delhi, in which two
suspected terrorist, Atif Amin and Mohamed
Sajid were killed while two other suspects
Mohd Saif and Zeeshan were arrested, while
one accused Ariz Khan managed to escape.
3. • Encounter specialist and Delhi
Police inspector Mohan Chand Sharma,
who led the police action was also killed
during the incident. The encounter led to
arrest of a number of local people, leading
to widespread allegations and protests by
political parties, civil society groups,
activists, especially teachers and students
of the Jamia Millia Islamia University.
Several political organizations like
the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj
Party (BSP) demanded a judicial
inquiry into the encounter, in the
Parliament, as "new versions" of the
encounter, started appearing the
newspapers.
4. • Subsequently, on the Delhi High Court's
directive on 21 May 2009, the National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) in its 22 July
report cleared the police of any violations of
rights. Public speculations and debate however
continued.
5. • The incident took place a week after five serial
blasts on 13 September 2008 that hit Delhi in
which at least 30 people were killed and over
100 injured. The killing of Atif Amin, who was
the chief bomber of the Indian Mujahideen,
had dealt a severe blow to the group, which
earlier been blamed for terror attacks between
2007 and 2009, in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur,
Surat and Faizabad, according to investigating
agencies.
6. • On the two year anniversary of the encounter a
shooting took place at the gates of historic Jama
Masjid, Delhi, in which two foreign tourists were
injured, apart from that a car bomb with failed
timer was also found in the vicinity. The police
had filed the chargesheet against Shahzad, Ariz
Khan (absconding), Atif Ameen and Mohammed
Sajid on 28 April 2010, accusing them of killing
Inspector Sharma on 19 September 2008.
7. • On February 15 2011, Additional Sessions Judge
Ajay Kumar Kuhar framed charges against
accused Shahzad Ahmed alias Pappu for the
offences of murder (Section 302), attempt to
murder (Section 307), section 333 (causing hurt to
public servant), 353 (assault to deter a public
servant from discharge of his duty), 186
(obstructing public servant in discharge of his
public functions) and 201 (causing disappearance
of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code, besides
section 27 of the Arms Act for his role in the
'encounter'.
