Anandpal encounter: Raj offers SIT inquiry, kin want CBI probe

The Rajasthan government's offer of an SIT probe into the encounter in which gangster Anandpal Singh was killed, failed to cut any ice with his family, who, backed the Rajput community, stuck to their demand for a CBI inquiry into it.
The gangster was gunned down in Malasar village in Churu on June 24. But the family members have not cremated the body to press for their demands, which include a CBI inquiry into the encounter and allowing his brothers, who are in judicial custody, to attend the funeral.
A meeting was held between a delegation of Rajput community members and state Parliament Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore and BJP state chief Ashok Parnami yesterday in which the government offered to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the encounter.

"The government will abide by the Supreme Court guidelines regarding encounter cases. We proposed to set up an SIT to investigate the case in the meeting yesterday, but the members of the community said that they will discuss with the family members of Anandpal," Parnami told reporters today.
He said the family members have not cremated the body so far which is a "dishonour to the departed soul".
Rawana Rajput leader Ranjit Singh said their demand was for a CBI probe and the proposal of SIT inquiry was not acceptable.

"The meeting yesterday was inconclusive because our demand is for a CBI inquiry in Anandpal encounter case," he said.

Meanwhile, Rajput Sabha and other social organisations questioned the shifting of Commando Sohan Singh, who was injured in the encounter, from SMS hospital in Jaipur to a private hospital in Gurgaon yesterday.
"The shifting of the police commando to a private hospital raises doubt on the government. Instead, he should be shifted to AIIMS and his treatment should be monitored by an expert committee of five doctors," Singh said.
On the other hand, lawyer A P Singh, who is supporting the family of Anandpal, said that dialogue with the government in absence of the slain gangster's daughter cannot succeed.
His daughter is is studying engineering in Dubai and the family members are also demanding assurance from the police that she will not be arrested when she comes India.

The SP of Nagaur said the body of Anandpal is kept in a deep freezer at his house where elaborate security arrangement has also been made. Police are allowing people to enter the village only after verifying their identity.