New York: A US-based rights group – Human Rights Watch - has asked the Government of India to investigate the role of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in fake encounters.
The request came in the context of Modi’s statement that virtually endorsed the fake encounter of terror suspect Sohrabuddin Sheikh by the state police in 2005.
"Modi's remarks send a green light to the police that executing terrorism suspects is fine with his administration. The government in Delhi should immediately investigate this seeming incitement to violence," Asia Director at Human Rights Watch Brad Adams said.
Sohrabuddin was shot dead in 2005 by Gujarat police who claimed he was a terrorist but since then, it has become clear that there was no evidence to pin him and that he was killed in a fake encounter.
The Human Rights Watch said that his wife is still missing. The watchdog also rejected Modi's explanation that he was responding to the allegation by Congress President Sonia Gandhi branding his government as merchant of death.
"He used similar excuses after the police participated in a killing spree of Muslims in 2002, but his pretexts were as hollow then as they are today," Adam said.
He added Modi cannot hide behind accusation of provocation to justify remarks "endorsing a murder".
"Modi's defenders say that his speech is being misrepresented, and that politicians make exaggerated remarks during election campaigns," said Adams. "But endorsing a police killing sends the wrong message at all times, and especially during an election."
Human Rights Watch noted that in response to Modi's comments, Election Commission has served him a notice. The EC noted that the speech amounted to indulging in activity which may aggravate existing differences, creating mutual hatred and causing tension between different communities.
The watchdog said that it had found that the attacks on Muslims in 2002 were planned and organised with extensive police participation and in close cooperation with supporters of the state government.
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