Shabnam claims innocence, seeks CBI probe in massacre

After filing another mercy plea to the Governor, the death row convict Shabnam has thrown another spanner to delay her hanging. Claiming innocence, she sought a CBI probe into the 2008 Amroha massacre after meeting her son Taj Mohammed, 12, in Rampur jail on Sunday.

Usman, Taj’s foster father who is raising him, took her son to Rampur jail again for a meeting. After meeting his convicted mother facing the death sentence, Taj told the media he did not want his mother to be hanged. “I have already sent a mercy petition to the President requesting him to forgive his mother and set her free,” Taj said, adding his mother has asked him to study hard to become a big and good man.

Earlier, Taj met his mother on January 21.

Usman, who was Shabnam’s classmate, claimed during their meeting, Shabnam said she was innocent and demanded a CBI probe into the April 2008 Bawankheri Village massacre in which 7 of her family members, including parents were slaughtered.

About why she was claiming innocence and demanding CBI inquiry now, Usman clarified she always maintained she was innocent.