Shakurbasti demolition: Plea in HC for SIT probe into death of infant

New Delhi, December 15

A fresh plea was today filed in the Delhi High Court in connection with the Shakur basti demolition incident seeking constitution of Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death of a toddler during the razing of a slum cluster on December 12.

An advocate in his petition before a bench of justices B D Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva said the matter is urgent as the displaced residents of Shakur Basti here need to be allocated permanent space immediately apart from the temporary rehabilitation programme being carried out by the concerned authorities.

Petitioner advocate Prem Pal Singh said the plea filed yesterday by a Congress leader had only sought rehabilitation of the people, who were rendered homeless in biting cold. He prayed for institution of a SIT probe into the incident and compensation to be paid to them as deemed appropriate by the court.

The court ordered the matter to be listed for tomorrow.

The petitioner said like the high court had asked Railway General Manager, Delhi Chief Secretary, Delhi Government and Delhi Police Commissioner to file affidavits as to what made them evict the slum dwellers in such an inhumane manner, it should also call for a response from Central Reserve Police Force and Railway Police, which gave protection for the exercise.—PTI