No evidence to prove Ishrat Jahan was a militant: Ex-home secretary Pillai

Former union homse secretary G.K.Pillai has said that there is no evidence to suggest that Ishrat Jahan was associated with militants before she was killed in a fake encounter by Gujarat Police in 2004.

"I don't think there is any conclusive evidence against her and unless any proper investigation is carried out, we will have to give her benefit of doubt," said Pillai here.

He also rejected media reports that convicted militant David Headley had told the National Investigation Agency that Ishrat was a LeT operative.

"To the best of my knowledge, in the NIA report there is no mention of Ishrat Jahan," said Pillai.

In 2009, when Pillai was home secretary, the government retracted from its earlier statement in the Supreme Court that Ishrat was a militant.

"What is wrong with the two affidavits? One affidavit gives the basis of evidence in the files and other one is only clarifying the fact that which anybody would say that even if you give evidence that one is terrorist or alleged terrorist or a suspect, we said that doesn't give anybody right to kill them without a fare trial," Pillai said.

Modi's government was widely criticised for its perceived hesitancy in stopping the carnage targeting the minority community of Muslims across Gujarat after the Godhra arson incident of a train rake carrying Hindu pilgrims was torched in February 2002.