In 10 cases, encounter cops get STF clean chit

Sources said that out of 17 cases entrusted to STF, three cases were disposed of by the judiciary while ordering for compensation.

These cases are — the encounter of Ganesh Khunte and Mahendra Jadav in Ahmedabad in 2003, Suleman alias Salim Gagaji Miyana in Rajkot city in 2004, Rafiqksha alias Bapudi Mamadsha Fakir in Rajkot rural in 2005. Four encounter cases, which are under investigation, are — Samir Khan Pathan (2002 in Ahmedabad), Haji Ismail (2005 in Umargam, Valsad), Rajeshwar alias Mintu Pandey (2005 in Borsad, Anand), Bhima Madabhai Mer (2004 in Junagadh).

The remaining 10  cases include the encounter of Anil B Misra in Pandesara, Mahesh D Gadhwadi, Umara, both in Surat, Mithu Umar Datel,
Vasad in Anand and Kashyap Harpalsinh Dhaka in Karelibaug, Vadodara city. They were killed between 2003 and 2004 in police encounters.

The other cases were — Ranjit alias Jalla Popat Devipujak in Rajkot, Dungariyo Himla Machar in Vapi, Sanjay alias Rahul Sarda Prasad in Valsad, Jogindersingh Khatansingh Sikh in Valsad, Subhash Bhaskar Nair in Vyara (Surat) and Kassim Hussain, Shahibaug, Ahmedabad.
In 2012, the SC had ordered the Gujarat government to form a STF to probe all the 17 encounters between 2002 and 2006. The order had come following two petitions filed by Bollywood film lyricist Javed Akhtar, B G Varghese and others.