Indian Mujahideen operative Shahzad Ahmad who has been convicted in the 2008 Batla House encounter case died during treatment at AIIMS, Delhi on Saturday, reported news agency ANI. He passed away at Delhi's AIIMS after a protracted illness. He had been admitted in January 2023 at AIIMS.
Prison officials said that he was convicted for murdering Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma and assaulting other officers. Shahzad was found guilty and given a life sentence in the September 19, 2008, Batla House encounter case.
Shahzad was found guilty of shooting and killing Inspector M.C. Sharma and trying to cause the death of the Head Constables Balwant Singh and Rajbir Singh. When Sharma was killed during the Batla House encounter, he was in charge of the police squad. He was also found guilty of assaulting police officers and obstructing them from doing their duty.
His conviction in the case has been contested at the Delhi High Court when he appealed against the verdict of a trial court that found him guilty and awarded a death sentence.
When a trial court sentences any person to the death penalty in a case, its judgement is examined by the high court through hearing arguments for confirmation of the death sentence.
The case documents and trial court judgement reach as death reference to the high court from the trial court.
On a tip-off about the presence of Indian Mujahideen operatives, a team of special cell of Delhi Police had reached the Batla House and raided a house leading to an encounter. IT was alleged these IM operatives were involved in serial blasts of September 13, 2008, in Delhi.