Vanzara, ex-IPS officers to launch NGO to help terror victims

Ahmedabad: D G Vanzara, a key accused in the Ishrat Jahan and Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter cases and currently out on bail, will be launching an NGO to “protect the human rights of the victims of terrorism.” Apart from Vanzara, former Gujarat DGP S S Khandwawala and former Maharashtra DGP K P Raghuvanshi are also a part of the NGO–Justice for Victims of Terrorism. The NGO will fight for the rights of terror victims by providing them legal assistance through a team of legal experts, and offer them platform to voice their opinions and concerns, he said, adding that the organisation has been registered and would be formally launched here on October 9. Vanzara has been designated as General Secretary of the NGO, while Khandwawala will be the Chairman and Raghuvanshi the Vice Chairman of the organisation. V D Gajjar, who is Vanzara’s lawyer in encounter cases, will be the Secretary. “Terrorism is a global problem and India is also facing it. There are many NGOs in the country that are working to defend the human rights of terrorists. The rationale behind our NGO is to protect the human rights of victims of terrorism,” said Vanzara, who was the former chief of Gujarat Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS). “There are many innocent people who have been victimised because of terror strike. Our objective through the NGO is that human rights of victims of terrorism should also be defended and they should also be helped. We will give them legal assistance and take care of their welfare, and also provide them a platform to speak about their victimisation,” he said. Former Intelligence Bureau Special Director Rajinder Kumar and Justice (retd) B J Sethna will be the chief guests of the inaugural function of the NGO’s launch, which will be presided over by Justice (retd) B C Patel, member of National Human Rights Commission and former chief justice of Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir high courts. PTI