Batla House encounter: Ariz Khan sentenced to death

New Delhi: Ariz Khan, accused of links to Indian Mujahideen and convicted in the death of a police inspector Mohan Chand Sharma in the Batla house encounter of 2008, has been sentenced to death by a Delhi Court. The judge had ruled earlier that Junaid, also known as Ariz Khan, was guilty, and the prosecution had succeeded in proving his guilt.

"Convict on account of his despicable act has forfeited his right to live. After balancing mitigating circumstances against aggravating circumstances, it is concluded that it is the rarest of the rare case where convict deserves maximum sentence provided under the law. It is the level of magnitude, degree of brutality, attitude and mindset of wrongdoer behind the crime along with other factors which makes it a rarest of rare case," the verdict read.

As per the verdict, Atif Ameen, Sajid and Shahzad plotted the murder. Atif Ameen and Sajid were killed in the encounter. Pappu, alias Shahzad, has been found guilty. Ariz Khan was arrested ten years after the incident.

The court has convicted Khan of sections 186, 333, 353, 302, 307, 174A, 34 of IPC and 27 of Arms Act. A fine of 11 lakhs has also been imposed, of which the court has directed that ten lakhs be given to the family of Mohan Sharma.

Congress leader Digvijay Singh, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samajwadi Party had expressed suspicion over the incident and demanded a judicial inquiry. Singh had later alleged that it was a fake encounter.

Mohan Chand Sharma was an inspector in the special unit of the Delhi Police. He was killed in the encounter on September 13, 2008, a week after a series of bombings in the national capital.