Gujarat fake encounters different from others: Cong

New Delhi, Apr 27 (UNI) The Congress today said fake encounters that took place in Gujarat recently were different from other such encounters in other parts of the country and should not be equated with them as it would dilute the gravity of the situation.

Congress Spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said although all fake encounters were condemnable and aberrations might be there every where, the fake encounters in Gujarat were different in the sense that these were state-sponsored and supported by the State Government.

He told media persons here that these encounters were also different because the Home Minister of the State had been indicted in an independent report and because the Supreme Court had directed a senior police officer of the state to conduct an inquiry.

It was unusual for a police officer of DIG rank to have picked up one person, Soharabuddin Sheikh, and his wife confining them in a farmhouse and then killing him in a fake encounter. Besides in this case, direct interference was made by the Government in the inquiry.

When a reporter said Soharabuddin was a criminal and, therefore, he was shot dead in an encounter, Mr Singhvi said Chief Minister Narendra Modi had ensured that Soharabuddin was beyond punishment by killing him.

To a question on reservation for the OBCs, Mr Singhvi said there was no change in the Government's stand and now it was for the Supreme Court to accept it or dispose it of. '' The status quo ante continues and there is no shift in the stand.'' The Congress spokesman refused to comment on the remark made by a Minister, Mr Ajam Khan, in Uttar Pradesh on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, saying he did not want to respond to his comment as it would unnecessarily increase his importance.

UNI