Custodial killing of North Kashmir youth

Murder accused cops sent to jail

5 Dariya News

Bandipora 29-Apr-2016

Ten years after Zahoor Ahmad Sofi of Brar, Bandipora, was allegedly tortured to death by Kaloosa camp of the Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police in August-September 2006, Crime Branch has filed apprehension of Chief Judicial Magistrate over the shoddy "Magisterial Enquiry" of AC Baramulla correct. It's now proved that the Magisterial Enquiry was wrong. Crime Branch has found four Policemen responsible for killing of the innocent youth and filed charge sheet in a case vide FIR number 125/2007 P/S Bandipora, against Abdul Aziz Thakur (Sub Inspector NO 6834/NGO), Bashir Ahmed Khan (Sub Inspector No.7623/NGO), Selection Grade Akther Hussain Mir No.867/AP 9th Bnt (now 221/IRP 12 Bntl) presently posted at Brusrar Power Project Kishtwar and main accused late Farooq Ahmed Dar (SPO).According to the charge-sheet the four accused have been booked under charges of murder, torture, illegal confinement, falsifying and distorting evidence separately. 

The case was first investigated by Police Station Bandipora and later on a magisterial inquiry was initiated under vide order number DMB/2006/4340-44 headed by then-Assistant Commissioner Baramulla A. K Wani. However, Chief Judicial Magistrate Bandipora expressed dissatisfaction over investigation in 2011 and directed SSP crime Branch Kashmir to reinvestigate the matter.   The investigation report revealed that On 26 August 2006, the police team from SOG camp Kaloosa headed by Aziz Thakur alias ‘Aziz Killer’ picked up one Zahoor Ahmed Sofi son of Habibullah Sofi of Brar Bandipora and took him to SOG camp Kaloosa.

The report says that deceased was illegally confined in the camp till September 6, 2006 when he was brought dead to Bandipora hospital in the evening. Doctors after conducting autopsy revealed that death was caused due to the rupture of a kidney with tear measuring 0.124cm.The death according to medical reports was caused due to the heavy physical torture to the deceased during the intervening night of 3-4 September 2006.The initial investigation of the case was carried out by Police Station Bandipora  and accordingly  submitted the charge sheet  in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate against Late Farooq Ahmed-SPO under section 302/RPC when he was dead.Report says that the CJM Bandipora expressed dissatisfaction over police investigation and passed an order dated December 12, 2011 observing therein that the charge sheet has been presented against the dead person in order to evade action against the officer and officials besides terming investigation as defective and shoddy, accordingly SSP Crime Branch Kashmir was directed to conduct the further investigation in the case which has now submitted its final report.

Crime Branch has accused late Farooq Ahmed of the offence under 302 RPC while Abdul Aziz Thakuhr(SI), Bashir Ahmed Khan(SI), Selection Grade Akther Hussain Mir have been charged with the offences punishable U/S 343, 468, 471, 201,109 RPC. The accused have been sent to Central Jail Srinagar. The petitioner was represented by his counsel Advocate Pir Reyaz Ahmed Shah.Last time Peoples Democratic Party-Congress coalition government got the then SP Ganderbal Hans Raj Parihar and 10 other Police officials, arrested for murders and forced them to face prosecution without conceding them a chance to get bail. (CNS)