Ishrat's family apprehends threats to life, demands security

The family of Ishrat Jahan, the Mumbai college girl who was gunned down in an allegedly staged shoot-out in Gujarat in 2004, Thursday claimed threats to their lives and demanded security.

Addressing media persons here, Ishrat's younger sister, 23-year-old Musarrat, contended that her family and those supporting them are being threatened.

"Some persons purportedly from the Mumbra police station had come to our door at 2.30 a.m. They repeatedly banged on the door and wanted us to open up. When we asked their identities, they claimed to be policemen, but as we did not open the doors, they left," she said.

Family friend Rauf Lala said that he immediately called up Mumbra police station which denied they had sent anybody to check on the family's safety.

"However, in the evening, police called and told me that it was indeed a beat constable with two-three others who had gone to enquire after the family's well-being. But, we are not convinced by this," Lala told IANS.

Not willing to take chances, Ishrat's mother Shamima Kauser has written to the union home ministry citing out "grave threats to life, liberty and security" to herself, her family and their well-wishers like Lala and M.I. Sayed who have been helping the family's quest for justice.

"If the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) apprehends threats to its officers, then we are common people. We demand that the state government must provide us with adequate security," Lala added.

He said that the local police have deployed two armed policemen at the family's residence Thursday, but felt that was not sufficient and he would meet higher-ups seeking enhanced security.

Ishrat's family continues to live in the sensitive Muslim-dominated town of Mumbra in adjoining Thane district.

She, along with four otherss had been shot down by Gujarat Police as suspected terrorists in 2004, but investigations are on following doubts about the police version.