CBI probe sought into custodial death of UP blast accused

The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday recommended a CBI probe into the death of 2007 serial blast accused Khalid Mujahid in police custody even as a case was registered against 42 UP police personnel for alleged conspiracy causing the death of Mujahid.

A probe has already been ordered by the state government into the death. A judicial probe in the matter is also underway.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav recommended a CBI inquiry after the kin of the deceased made such a demand, an official spokesman said.

Mujahid, an accused in the 2007 serial blasts that had rocked Lucknow and Faizabad courts, died on Saturday in a police van while being brought back to Lucknow jail after a court hearing.

According to the sources, Mujahid suddenly fell ill near Ram Sanehi Ghat in Barabanki district, about 50 km from here, and was rushed to District Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. Officials said the death appeared to have been caused owing to excessive heat.

Mujahid’s uncle Zaheer Alam filed an FIR against 42 people, including a former and a current director-general of police, at the Kotwali police station in Barabanki district on Sunday.

He alleged that these officials were responsible for Mujahid’s death. Sources said the FIR was lodged against former DG Vikram Singh and the current DG, training, Brijlal.
The kin of Mujahid alleged that he had been abducted by the Special Task Force of the state police from Jaunpur district on December 16, 2007, though the police claimed that he had been picked from near Barabanki railway station.

There were three other suspects also in the van with Mujahid. They were taken to the Lucknow jail, where they had been lodged. Mujahid was one of the accused in serial blasts at Gorakhpur, Faizabad and Lucknow in 2007.

The state government had recently moved an application before the court for withdrawing cases against Khalid Mujahid and another accused Tariq Kasmi but the court had rejected the government’s plea. Kasmi and Mujahid were arrested at Barabanki railway station with explosives.