Killing of Shaista Hamid:Family describes probe as ‘farce’

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 23-Apr-2016

The family of Shaista Hamid of Lelhar hamlet of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district here, who died in Army firing in February this year, on Saturday alleged that neither police registered an FIR against the Army nor the guilty army personnel appeared before the Inquiry Committee. The family said that the probe into the killing was an eye-wash aimed at to cool down the tempers of the people.On 14 February this year a militant Adil Ahmad of Banderpora, Pulwama was killed in an encounter at Kharpora area of Kakapora. During the post encounter protest, two students including a girl were killed and 15 other civilians injured when police and army allegedly used bullets and tear gas shells on them. They were identified as Danish Farooq Mir son of Farooq Ahmad, resident of Ratnipora Pulwama and Shaishta Hameed daughter of Abdul Hameed, resident of Lelhara, Kakapora.

Shortly after these killings government had appointed Additional District Magistrate Pulwama Shahbaz Mirza as Inquiry Officer and he was directed to probe the civilian killings and submit his report within a period of one-month.Abdul Hameed, the father of the slain girl told CNS that 8 local witnesses who deposed before the Inquiry Committee clearly held Army responsible for the death of Shaista Hamid. “To our utter surprise police have till date neither lodged any FIR against the Army nor have they deposed before the Inquiry Officer,” he said and added that this probe is a ‘farce’ aimed at to save the skin of the guilty.Abdul Hameed said that he fails to understand how Inquiry Officer submitted his report to authorities without recording the statements of Army personnel.Despite repeated attempts, Inquiry Officer could not be contacted for the comments. (CNS)