Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society Wednesday demanded a thorough probe into the killing of a 20 years old youth from Apple town Sopore who according to the organization was allegedly put to death by the then Station House Officer Sopore Ghazanfar Ali alias Chulbul Pandey on June 29, 2011.On the eve of the fifth death anniversary of Junaid Ahmed Khuroo, Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) maintained that Khuroo was murdered by a police party led by the then SHO Sopore Ghazanfar Ali. Spokesperson JKCCS said that despite overwhelming evidence of the killing of the victim, and the father of the victim approaching both the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), not even an FIR has been filed against the police and the perpetrators continue to evade justice. The police has filed an FIR alleging that the victim was a militant and killed himself after being cornered by the armed forces, and has take the same position before the SHRC and the High Court.“
Junaid Khuroo was interrogated in custody by the main accused, Gazanfar Ali, just five days before his killing. Further, witnesses confirm that the victim was proceeding towards his school on 29 June 2011, and that he was not a militant. Most importantly, medical records confirm that the victim was shot on the left side of his head, which completely rules out the possibility of the victim shooting himself as he was a right-hander. While the petition remains pending in the High Court, the father of the victim has also approached the SHRC. On 26 June 2016, SHRC directed its Police Investigation Wing to carry out an enquiry into the case. The family awaits the report and conclusions of the SHRC police investigation wing to consider future action. Unfortunately, the SHRC continues to be dysfunctional with no chairperson or members,” the statement issued to CNS reads.The spokesperson said that the killing of Junaid Khuroo followed by the five year struggle for justice is yet another example of State violence, impunity and the illusory nature of justice in Jammu and Kashmir. “On the fifth death anniversary of Junaid Khuroo, his family reaffirmed their commitment to continue the struggle for justice, shame the perpetrators of the crime and never forget nor forgive,” spokesperson added. (CNS)