Saturday, February 12 2005 10:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A two-member team of doctors was yesterday (Feb 11, 2005) set up to examine S A R Geelani, Delhi University lecturer acquitted in Parliament attack case, who was shot at and injured on Tuesday (Feb 8, 2005) night.

The doctors - one having expertise in forensic sciences and another a surgeon - will report on the health status of Geelani, who is recuperating at All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), police sources said.

The team will also conduct a ballistic test of bullets he sustained and are still embedded in his body, they said, adding it will help the investigators ascertain what kind of weapon was used in the attack.

The test will also help in ascertaining whether the five empty cartridges found outside the residence of Geelani's lawyer Nandita Haksar in Vasant Enclave match with the bullets sustained by him, the sources said.

"In terms of investigations, this is very important," they said.

A request for setting up the board was made by police to the Delhi Government on Thursday (Feb 10, 2005).

The police themselves fail to make any headway in the S A R Geelani assault case even four days after the incident; Delhi Police is probing involvement of his associates, including Parliament attack convicts, even as it blamed AIIMS doctors for affecting the probe by not allowing them to talk to him.

Suspecting involvement of Mohd Afzal and Shaukat Hussain, who were co-accused with Geelani in Parliament attack case, police have scoured through the list of persons who have met them recently in Tihar Jail, police sources said.

Teams have been despatched to Jammu and Kashmir and some other parts to question the visitors of Afzal and Shaukat, they said.

Afzal and Shaukat have also been questioned in connection with Tuesday's attack, they said.

Police blamed the authorities of AIIMS, where Geelani is recuperating for bullet wounds, of affecting investigations.

"Doctors at the AIIMS did not give permission to police to talk to Geelani, saying he was unfit to make any statement. This is delaying the investigations," Delhi Police spokesman Ravi Pawar said.

Police Commissioner K K Paul also raised questions over the nearly hour-long delay in police being informed about the attack and said it could have led to loss of crucial evidence.

"If this (delay) had not been there, maybe some things could have been found earlier," Paul told reporters in New Delhi.