Ashiana victims' kin feel they stand vindicated

PATNA: For the family members of the three youths -- Himanshu, Vikash Ranjan and Prashant -- killed in a fake police encounter on December 28, 2002, Tuesday morning brought an end of the ordeal they had to undergo for the last three months. The CBI has chargesheeted accused sub-inspector Shamse Alam and the shopkeepers of Sammelan Market in Ashiana Nagar for killing the youths in cold-blood."We stand vindicated. The tag and the mental trauma that our sons were "criminals" have been removed by the chargesheet," said Laxman Singh, father of Prashant, with tears rolling down his eyes. "The CBI has done a great job by chargesheeting the accused in a short period," said Jagdish Prasad Gupta, father of Vikash Ranjan. "The news gave me an immense satisfaction," added Gupta. "The chargesheet should carry a special message for the police in general that they cannot take the law in their own hands, yet they are behaving in an irrational manner," said Nishant, brother of Himanshu. However, they are not satisfied by a mere chargesheet. "We'll wait for the final punishment. Final nyay mil jaye to accha ho," said Singh. His views are seconded by Gupta as well. The family members of the youths thanked the media and the people who helped them get justice through their agitation over the issue. "It is the spontaneous people's agitation and the good reports carried by the media which forced the authorities concerned to take quick action," said Nishant. "People compelled the state government to probe the matter otherwise the matter was as good as over as the police had left no stone unturned to hush up the matter," adds Singh. However, the family members of the youths are sore over the fact that no action has been taken against some other police officials who were also present at the place of the incident. "The DSP is moving scot-free. He has only been transferred," charges Singh's wife. "The DSP, too, should have been indicted," said Nishant. Singh also criticised the role of some of the political parties over the manner in which they have tried to co-relate the Manjhaul issue with the Ashiana Nagar case in the assembly. Singh also rues the paraphernalia involved in the release of his son's scooter which he was riding on the fateful day as well as tracing his son's missing ATM card and watch. The family members of the youths also hope that the government will construct a memorial or rename the Ashiana Nagar More as Shaheed Chowk as promised by RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav.