Jailors told to bring complete record in Kandhar hijack case

Patiala, Nov 18 (UNI) The Assistant Superintendent (ASP) of Tihar Jail and Sr Jailor of Mumbai central jail today appeared before the court of special designated judge Inderjit Singh Walia, hearing the Kandahar hijacking case of Indian Airline plane IC-814.

The senior jailor informed the court that many records have been destroyed in flash floods during heavy rainfall last year in Mumbai.

The Judge ordered him to bring a certificate from the senior superintendent of jails about the extent of damages to the records during the floods.

The ASP of Tihar Jail waa also directed to appear before court with a complete record of persons who were released during the Kandahar Operation. The court however, fixed December six for the next hearing.

The defence counsel, representing accused Dalip Kumar Bhujel and Yusuf Nepali, Mr H V Rai had asked the court to summon the superintendent of Tihar jail to seek clarification as on whose order the three terrorists, who were lodged in the Tihar jail, were set free in exchange of the passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814.

The defence contended that it was of vital importance to its case to establish what procedure was followed to let off the three men. He also said that jail records of Tihar jail were required to find out when the three were lodged there and when were they let off. He said that in case no legal procedures were followed to free the prisoners, it could establish that the hijacking had been planned by the Union Government.

The defence counsel for Abdul Latiff, Mr B S Sodhi sought the summoning of superintendent of central jail of Bombay. He stated that Latiff had been lodged in the central jail of Bombay at the time when hijacking took place. He said the records could establish the defence's claims and if so, it could be proved that he had not helped the hijackers.

UNI XC PS RR BS2002