'I Have A Moral Justification To Expose Real Culprits Behind Encounter Cases'

Controversial and suspended IPS officer D. G. Vanzara, who served as one of top-cop of Gujarat as D.I.G., and was considered close to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, was first arrested by Gujarat Police on April 24, 2007 in Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case and is lodged in Sabarmati Central Jail ever since. Over the past six years he has been made prime accused in the alleged fake encounter killings of Tulsiram Prajapati, Sadik Jamal, Mumbai student Ishrat Jahan, Javed Shaikh, and two alleged Pakistani nationals Amjad Ali Rana and Zeeshan Johar.   

Vanzara, lodged in Sabarmati central jail, in a 10-page hard-hitting resignation letter to Additional Chief Secretary of the state's Home department from service, reiterated that he and his other co-accused officers were only implementing the conscious policy of the government:

"I would like to categorically state in the most unequivocal words that the officers and men of Crime Branch, ATS and Border Range, during the period between 2002 to 2007, simply acted and performed their duty in compliance of the conscious pro-active policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism of this government after Godhra riots..." 

"Gujarat CID/Union CBI had arrested me and my officers in different encounter cases holding us to be responsible for carrying out alleged fake encounters, if that is true, then the CBI Investigation officers of all the four encounter cases of Shohrabuddin, Tulasiram, Sadique Jamal and Ishrat Jahan have to arrest the policy formulators also as we, being field officers, have simply implemented the conscious policy of this government which was inspiring, guiding and monitoring our actions from very close quarters. 

" By this reasoning, I am of the firm opinion that the place of this government instead of being in Gandhinagar, should either be in Taloja Central Position at Navi Mumbai or in Sabarmati Central Prison at Ahmedabad."

The former DIG went on to  accuse the state government, particularly former Minister of State for Home Amit Shah,  of betraying him and 32 other officers, in jail in encounter killing cases being probed by the CBI:

"Let me also further put on record and clarify my stand that I have been maintaining my graceful silence for such a long period only and only because of my supreme faith in and highest respect for Shri Narendrabhai Modi, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Gujarat, whom I used to adore like a God. 

" But I am sorry to state that my God could not rise to the occasion under the evil influence of Shri Amitbhai Shah who usurped his eyes and ears and has been successfully misguiding him by converting goats into dogs and dogs into goats since last 12 years."

The letter is damning as it seems to virtually acknowledge fake encounters during Modi's tenure and could create problems for the Chief Minister, also BJP's election campaign committee chief, ahead of next year's general elections:

"It is in everybody's knowledge that this government has been reaping very rich political dividends since last 12 years by keeping the glow of encounter cases alive in the sky of Gujarat while otherwise remaining low profile and indifferent to the fate of jailed police officers," he said.

"With the passage of time I realised that this government is not only interested in protecting us but, it also has been clandestinely making all efforts to keep me and my officers in jail so as to save its own skin from CBI on one hand and gain political benefits on the other."

Unlike his direct assault on Amit Shah, Vanzara refrained from attacking Modi hard:

"Chief minister of Gujarat has very rightly been talking of repaying his debt which he owes to Mother India. But, it would not be out of context to remind him that he, in the hurry of marching towards Delhi may kindly not forget to repay the debt which he owes to jailed police officers who endowed him with the halo of brave chief minister among the galaxy of other chief ministers who do not bare the same adjective before their names" 

Vanzara held Shah responsible for the transfer of Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsi Prajapati encounter cases out of Gujarat. He also accused Shah of adopting 'British policy of divide and rule' towards state police officers and for creating the crisis of confidence among senior officers.

"Instead of providing an innovative and benevolent leadership for keeping the police force of the state intact, efficient and fighting machine, Amit Shah introduced a much despised British policy of divide and rule coupled with equally dirty policy of use the officers and throw them by deliberately spreading disinformation about them" 

"Amit Shah lost all credibility and confidence which ignited the `yadavasthali' or fratricidal police war in Gujarat which was later on exploited by CBI opening the floodgates of politico-legal problems for this government"

"I sincerely believe and state that but for the legal and political intrigues, machinations and manoeuvring of Amit Shah the trial of Sohrabuddin encounter case, followed by that of Tulsiram encounter case, would not have gone out of the state of Gujarat" 

At present 32 policemen, including six IPS officers from Gujarat and Rajasthan are under arrest in four encounter cases being probed by CBI and names of six more IPS officers have figured in the charge sheets filed in Tulsi Prajapati and Ishrat Jahan encounter cases.

D.G. Vanzara's Letter by OutlookMagazine