"I didn't even know what an encounter meant, till Ishrat's death.
"I didn't even know what an encounter meant, till Ishrat's death.
Finally, after five years, our trauma has ended. But these years have been hell and we have suffered a lot," said Musarat Jahan, her younger sister, the most voluble of all the five siblings.
Ishrat used to give tuitions and earned Rs 3,000 per month. She was the only earning member in the family after their father died in 2004.
After her death, the family found it almost impossible to survive, but they managed. "We now have a family income of Rs 5,000.
We have always been poor, but honest and have made a living by taking tuitions. My elder sister (now married) and mother tailor clothes."
The family could not travel outside Mumbra and their friends and neighbours abandoned them.
Anwar said, "I couldn't complete Std XII. I was mentally tortured. When I went looking for a job, I was rejected because of Ishrat's 'terrorist' tag."
Musarat said despite the proof given by the police, the family, never once, believed that Ishrat was involved in terrorism.
"It's the month of Ramzan and Allah is truly with us," says Musarat.
Fake Encounter
Ahmedabad Crime Branch officials picked up Ishrat Jahan and Javed Shaikh from Mumbai on June 12, 2004. For two days, they are kept in secret.
On June 14, Ishrat, Javed along with Amjadali Rana and Jisan Johar are killed near Ahmedabad in a police encounter, which comes to light on next day.
'Ishrat could not even afford to pay our fees'
Students and teachers of Khalsa College at Matunga are ecstatic over the Ishrat Jahan verdict.
R Patheja, principal, said, "I never thought Ishrat was in the LeT, as such a person would automatically earn lots of money.
Ishrat was barely able to pay her college fees!" She added, "The clean chit in the case is a relief not only for her family, but also for us.
The prestige of our college remains intact. Our best wishes are with Ishrat's family."
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