Another accused in the 2008 serial blasts, Zeeshan Ahmed, also deposed as defence witness through video conferencing from Sabarmati jail.
An alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative, who is an accused in 2008 Delhi serial blasts, on Friday appeared as defence witness in Batla House encounter trial where he denied that any gunbattle had taken place between occupants of the flat and the police.
“We were caught on gun point,” deposed Moh Saif as he appeared through video conferencing from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati jail, where he is lodged in connection with another blasts case, in defence of Shahzad Ahmed– the lone accused in the September 19 Batla House encounter.
In his deposition before Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri, he said, “It is wrong to say that apart from me, Mohd Atif Ameen, Mohd Sajid, Ariz Khan alias Junaid and Shahzad Ahmed were also present there (flat No.108, L-18, Batla House).
“It is wrong to say that they fired at police or one Inspector of Delhi Police Mohan Chand Sharma, who died and one head constable Balwant suffered injuries.” Mohd Saif deposed that he along with Atif and Sajid was sleeping in a room from where they were caught on gun point.
“We were caught on gun point. I heard the sound of firing. I heard same sound of firing for some time. After that, they took me away from the spot with covered face to police station.”
Mohd Saif was one of the occupants of the flat in Jamia Nagar which was raided by police during its probe in the September 13 serial blasts here. He is alleged to have surrendered and disclosed his and other’s involvement in the blasts.
“It is wrong to say that I surrendered before the police peacefully on that day. I was taken from that flat in custody. I do not know in which case I was arrested by the police. It is wrong to say that I had disclosed myself before the police that I am a member of IM,” he deposed.
Mohd Saif also said, “It is wrong to say that I had disclosed to the police that leader of IM is Atif, who was involved in the serial blast on September 13, 2008 in Delhi at various places. It is wrong to say that I had disclosed the names of Junaid and Shahzad to the police, as persons who fled away from the flat.”
Another accused in the 2008 serial blasts, Zeeshan Ahmed, also deposed as defence witness through video conferencing from Sabarmati jail.
Zeeshan said on the day of incident he was present at the flat along with Atif, Saif and Sajid but had left for his college in the morning as he had to appear in an examination.
The case is now fixed for final arguments on July 2.
According to the charge sheet, Mohd Saif was also present in the flat in which the encounter took place on September 19, 2008 between officers of the Special Cell of Delhi Police and the alleged Indian Mujahideen terrorists.
The police team is said to have reached the flat during its probe in the 2008 Delhi serial blasts where a series of explosions were executed at Karol Bagh, Connaught Place, Greater Kailash and India Gate killing 26 and injuring 133.
Shahzad had allegedly escaped from the flat in Jamia Nagar during the encounter. The charge sheet says Mohd Saif had surrendered peacefully and had disclosed the names of the escapees as Shahzad and one other named Junaid. While Shahzad was arrested later, Junaid was declared a proclaimed offender.
Other accused named in the charge sheet are Mohd Atif Ameen alias Bashir and Mohd Sajid. Both of them were shot dead in the encounter.
(Source: PTI)
