New Delhi: On September 19, 2008, a group of Delhi police commandos raided L-18 Batla House in Jamia Nagar, south-east Delhi, and in the ensuing encounter two suspected militants Atif Amin and Mohammed Sajid were killed, while two others Mohammed Saif and Zeeshan were arrested. The fifth accused Ariz Khan managed to escape, according to Delhi police. Local residents say, those killed were innocent residents from Azamgarh, UP.Delhi Police Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma was martyred in action, and he was given a state funeral by Delhi Police. For the past five years, there has been several theories about whether the Batla House encounter was genuine or staged. Here are some facts relating to the encounter:The encounter took place a week after five serial blasts hit Delhi on 13 September 2008 in which at least 30 people were killed and over 100 injured.The killing of Atif Amin, said to be the chief bomber of Indian Mujahideen, was a severe blow to the group. The IM has been blamed for terror attacks between 2007 and 2009, in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Surat and Faizabad.On reaching the four-storied house in Batla House colony, police tried to storm the flat on the second floor at 10.30 am and this led to a heavy exchange of fire. Mohan Chand Sharma received the first burst of fire from the terrorists holed up inside.After the ensuing exchange of fire, two suspected terrorists, Atif Amin and Mohd Sajid were killed, two others Mohd Saif and Zeeshan were arrested, while one managed to escape.Doubts were raised by many local residents, and members of civil society outfits accusing the Delhi Police of carrying out a fake encounter.On a plea filed by an NGO, "Act Now For Harmony and Democracy", the Delhi High Court on 21 May 2009 asked National Human Rights Commission to enquire into the police version of the encounter, and submit its report within two months.On 22 July, NHRC submitted a 30-page report which gave a clean chit to Delhi Police.Shahzad Ahmed is the only accused who is standing trial in this case.Inspector Mahesh Chand Sharma was posthumously awarded India's highest peace-time military decoration, the Ashok Chakra on 26 January 2009.
