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| Former MoS Home gets clean chit; role of DC, DIG, SP, Duty Magistrates questioned | | Gandhi Commission submits its interim report | | Kichloo like to be re-inducted today
Asif Iqbal Naik
KISHTWAR, Dec 20: Justice retired RC Gandhi appointed as an one man commission of inquiry to probe into August 9, 2013 Kishtwar communal clashes and subsequent incidents of violence and arson finally submitted its much awaited interim report to the Government today.
The interim report in a sealed cover was handed over to GAD officials by Qazi Sawar, secretary to Gandhi Commission.
As per the reports, Justice Gandhi in his interim report gives clean chit to former Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo who resigned from the Council of Ministers on August 12 this year following uproar in both houses of Parliament over Kishtwar violence. Justice Gandhi during his investigation in which he cross examined over 320 affidavits did not find anything adverse against Kichloo. The commission on the basis of the statements of various eyewitnesses declared Kichloo in his report as a victim who was attacked by unruly mob which also made an attempt to kill him by triggering LPG cylinder blast.
The sources said that Justice Gandhi in his interim report also found former Deputy Commissioner Saleem Chowdhary and Superintendent of Police Kishtwar Dr. Sunil Gupta of negligence in duty, besides former DC and SP, DIG, some junior level police officers, duty magistrates of violence hit area of non performance and derelection of duty. The commission found that the August 9 violence was triggered abruptly and was not planed; though had links with the past incidents that had created a wedge between the two communities. The commission in its interim report also recommended absorption of Muslim Community members in VDCs so as to maintain balance as there is apprehension/insecurity within the members of the majority community towards the VDCs having overwhelming representations from minority Community that can become the cause of law and order problem in future as well. Commission in its report apprehended recurring of incidents like August 9.
The commission in its reports also slammed police, administration, SIT, CID and other Government agencies for non cooperation in investigation and blamed that non cooperation of these agencies led to delay in drafting of final report.
Commission has also mentioned about some innocent persons framed in the violence related cases and also pointed out that many accused who were declared absconders by the court are roaming free, visiting Government offices, sitting in shops and doing business, while police was acting as mute spectator and failed to arrest them. The commission also questioned the integrity of police for their failure to registered an FIR of attack on former MoS Home as the registration of an FIR and investigation into attack on Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo can open the lid to failure of the police functionaries who even failed to safe guard their own Minister.
The commission in its investigation also found the role of Army as positive and rebuffed the reports that there was free for all situation in the town for over seven hours. The commission found that violence climaxed between 11.30 AM to 2.30 PM and added that the Army has reached at Dak Banglow Kishtwar by 1.30 PM to 2 PM and joined the administration in maintenance of law and order thereafter. When contacted, Qazi Sarwar Secretary to commission of inquiry confirmed that Justice Gandhi handed over him a sealed cover report which he later handed over to GAD for further perusal.
"We are examining the report received from the commission only today…. It will take two to three days to read and understand the findings and recommendations of the commission and surely will act on them in letter and spirit," said a senior Government functionary preferring anonymity. In another significant development, after examining the operative part of the Justice Gandhi commission report; sources within the Government inform that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has written a letter to Governor NN Vohra for re-induction of Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo who received a clean chit from the commission with regard to his role in the violence. The oath taking ceremony of Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo is likely to take place tomorrow afternoon after the function of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi at Parade ground Jammu in which Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is also participating as a guest of honour. |
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