Breaking News! Maharashtra Deputy CM RR Patil, created a flutter yesterday, by terming the worst-ever terror attacks in Mumbai, as a “small incident”. There has been a huge outrage over RR Patil’s remarks, not only in Mumbai, but also across the country.
RR Pattil, known for his controversial remarks, said “bade shahron mein aise ek adh hadse hote rahte hain. Woh 5,000 logon ko marne aye the lekin humne kitna kum nuksan hone diya . (Such small incidents happen in big cities. They (terrorists) came to kill 5,000 people but we ensured minimal damage)”.
If Patil’s remarks were not enough, Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh sparked anger in the public by taking his sons Ritesh (Bollywood Actor) and Amit and most shocking, film maker Ram Gopal Varma, on his visit to Hotel Taj and Hotel Trident Oberoi to get the detailed account on recent terror attacks.
It was an official visit of the Chief Minister, but it’s surprising why Ram Gopal Varma was allowed in his entourage. Even Congress leaders like Veerappa Moily have pulled up Vilasrao Deshmukh for this “irresponsible” act. Opposition BJP and Shiv Sena have criticised Vilasrao Deshmukh for taking his son and filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma on an official visit to inquire about terror-stricken Taj and Oberoi.
The BJP on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into the killing of Bihar youth Rahul Raj in a shootout with Mumbai Police, saying there were indications of “foul play” in the incident.
“The post-mortem report and the comments of the medical experts clearly indicate that there was foul play in the killing of the youth. Our party demands a CBI inquiry into the incident so that the truth is known,” party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters here.
Asked if the party would follow suit of ally JD(U) which has asked its MPs to resign over the issue, Rudy said, “resignation can never be a solution.”
“It is time for all of us to keep aside our political priorities to ensure peace in society and security of North Indians in Maharashtra,” he said.
“We differ on the approach with our ally JD(U) on resignation. The JD(U) has taken this decision without any consultation,” he added.
Raj, a resident of Patna, was killed in a shootout with the police after he held a bus with 12 passengers hostage in Mumbai suburb Kurla on October 27. The killing sparked a furore with several parties demanding a judicial probe into the incident.
The autopsy of the youth was performed at the J J Hospital and was recorded on video before the body was sent to Patna for cremation. A doctor involved in the autopsy has said one of the bullets may have been fired from a close range.
Maharashtra Chief Secretary Johny Joseph is conducting an independent probe into the incident while the Mumbai Police Crime Branch is also carrying out an internal inquiry.
The Supreme Court will hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a judicial inquiry in the alleged encounter of Bihar youth Rahul Raj by Mumbai Police.
The PIL filled in the apex court also seeks a judicial probe into the alleged lynching of a UP labourer Dharam Rai, while he was travelling on a train in Badlapur in Maharashtra.
Earlier today, the autopsy conducted by a four-member panel of forensic experts at J J Hospital in Mumbai on Thursday confirmed that Rahul Raj was shot from very close range.
The panel of doctors which conducted the post mortem on Raj revealed that there were five bullet entry wounds on his body, all in the chest and head region. However, there were only four exit wounds as one bullet was recovered from the body.
The experts also confirmed that at least 12-13 rounds of bullets were fired by the Mumbai Police team in a bid to end the BEST bus hijack drama.
The autopsy report has not been made official and the panel of doctors will shortly submit it to the government.
The findings of the post-mortem could complicate things for the Maharashtra government and Mumbai Police, which is already under scanner for allegedly killing the 23-year-old youth from Bihar.
The finding is also expected to give credence to the allegations levelled by the Bihar government and Rahul Raj’s parents that Mumbai Police could have easily captured him, and there was no need to kill him.
The Additional Commissioner of Police Mumbai Sadanand Date had earlier supported the stand taken by the cops and warned that anybody trying to take law in his hands would also meet the same result.
Rahul Raj was killed by Mumbai Police when he tried to take a BEST bus hostage on gun point in order to send a strong message to MNS Chief Raj Thackeray for his party’s treatment to the North Indians.
The incident draw sharp reactions Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, who alleged that it was wrong to shoot down Raj could and he could have been caught alive.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also spoke to the Maharashtra CM, Vilas Rao Deshmukh, and asked him to insure the safety of all sections so that incidents like this are not repeated in the future.
My son was shot in fake encounter: Rahul’s father
Reacting to the autopsy report of Rahul Raj, his father today reiterated that the report vindicated his claim that his son was killed in a fake encounter.
“I have been saying from day one that my son was captured and then shot from point blank range. The forensic report of the J J hospital, Mumbai, has vindicated my stand. The Centre should now dismiss the Maharashtra government,” Singh, told reporters.
Questioning the Centre that how many more Biharis do it wants to be killed in Maharashtra before taking a firm action he said, “the policemen involved in the encounter had worn bullet-proof jackets and could have easily overpowered my son, who I don’t know from where procured the gun.”
Singh thanked the hospital authorities for making public an “impartial and unbiased forensic report despite being under tremendous pressure.”
“If the Centre does not take action against the perpetrators of the crime and the Maharashtra government, lakhs of Rahul Raj are prepared to make supreme sacrifice to secure justice,” he asserted.
Maharashtra’s Deshmukh government is facing tremendous pressure to act against Maharashtra Navnirman chief Raj Thackeray and clear the air on killing of a Bihar boy in firing by police.
The Union Cabinet discussed the killings of north Indians in Maharashtra on Thursday night after ally Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party insisted on a discussion.
The Cabinet told Home Minister Shivraj Patil to convey to Maharashtra Chief Minister that there was near unanimity in the Cabinet over the two demands.
It also made it clear that MNS leader Raj Thackeray should be arrested under National Security Act.
The Law Minister backed the demand for a judicial probe into the death of Rahul Raj — the boy who attempted hijacking a bus at gun point.
He also said that Rahul Raj’s killing has turned into a police versus public matter.
And as the UPA allies asked for action, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh informed the Cabinet that he had written a strong worded letter to Maharashtra CM.
During the meeting, the Home Minister said he had sent three advisory to Maharashtra government but the UPA allies were not convinced.
However, ministers from Maharashtra like Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel and Antulay skipped the meet.
Voice of Bihar 