Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 23 : On 17 December 2013, First Additional Sessions Judge, Baramulla granted interim bail to two of three accused persons in the ongoing trial on FIR No. 202 /2011 under section 302, 201 at Sopore Police Station in relation to the July 30-31, 2011 torture and custodial killing of Nazim Rashid Shalla, resident of Sopore, Baramulla District. This bail order was provided to the father of the victim yesterday.
The accused persons of the Jammu and Kashmir Police undergoing trial, and now on bail, are: Head Constable Janak Raj, Selection Grade Constable Mohammad Abass Palla and Selection Grade Constable Nissar Ahmad Malik charged only with destroying evidence granted bail on 10 December 2011.
The key issue in this case is that the entire investigation and ongoing prosecution in the torture and custodial killing of Nazim Rashid Shalla has served to shield the perpetrators.
The Interim bail order is merely the most recent example. Nazim Rashid Shalla was tortured and killed in custody by personnel and officers of the Police and SOG, camped at Town Hall, Sopore.
The family of the victim alleged that the real perpetrators in this case were: SP Altaf Ahmad Khan, presently Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, Zewan, and DSP Ashiq Hussain Tak. Government of Jammu and Kashmir did not chargesheet either of these senior officers. Instead, junior police personnel were proceeded against.
The recent interim bail was granted based almost entirely on the fact that the prosecution witnesses turned hostile.
Following the custodial killing of Nazim Rashid Shalla, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah promised justice. But, in fact, the real alleged perpetrators were not charge sheeted, and a trial was allowed to commence that has been directly influenced by the real alleged perpetrators. |
