MP govt. orders judicial probe in Bhopal encounter

The Madhya Pradesh Government has ordered a judicial probe into the encounter of eight SIMI operatives, which escaped from the Bhopal Central Jail, in Bhopal.

Retired justice SK Pande will head the inquiry commission. The panel will probe the circumstances under which SIMI operatives escaped and the encounter in which they were killed by police.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court had issued a notice to the state government yesterday seeking a detailed report on the encounter.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had earlier announced a NIA probe into the incident.

On the other hand, Home Minister Bhupendra Singh had said that there is no need of any probe into the encounter.

Eight SIMI operatives had escaped on Sunday night from Bhopal central jail after killing security guard Ramashankar Yadav.

They were gunned down later. Social activists and political parties have raised several questions regarding the incident.