Rajasthan lynching: SC asks CBI to seek instruction on widow's plea
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the CBI to seek instructions from the Central government on conducting a probe and providing adequate compensation to the widow of a Muslim laborer, who was hacked and burnt alive in Rajasthan last year.
Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to inform it about the issue raised by Gulbahar Bibi, wife of 50-year-old Afrazul Khan who was from West Bengal.
The woman also sought an independent probe into the murder and direction that the video of the ghastly murder is withdrawn from the internet and social media sites.
Appearing for Gulbahar Bibi, senior advocate Indira Jaising asked the court to transfer the probe from Rajasthan to West Bengal which the judges said would be decided later.
The apex court had earlier termed as "horrendous" the video of Khan being hacked and burnt alive in Rajsamand district.
The petition sought appointment of a Special Public Prosecutor to conduct the trial and transfer of the investigation to Malda district in West Bengal where Bibi resides.
Khan was killed allegedly by Shambhulal Regar on December 6 last year, and the entire murder was recorded by the minor nephew of the accused, who is in judicial custody.
After killing Khan, Regar was seen in the video saying he did it to stop Love Jihad -- a term used to refer to Muslim men marrying Hindu women.
The plea said: "The petitioner is aggrieved by the limited investigation being conducted by the Rajasthan Police into the murder of her husband since its videography and uploading as well as dissemination of the same is more inhuman and gruesome than the murder itself which is beyond the scope of the present investigation agency so the real guilty will never be brought to the book."
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
