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| Will slain youth’s family ever get justice? | | WHO KILLED ZAHID? | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 7: The assurance of the Chief Minister and his senior minister Ali Muhammad Sagar notwithstanding, justice seems a distant dream for the relatives of Zahid Farooq, a student of 11th standard who got killed in mysterious circumstances on February 5 at Brain, Nishat.
The Chief Minister ordered a high level probe into the killing after half an hour of the incident. The probe was entrusted to divisional commissioner Kashmir, Naseema Lanker. She has been told to submit a detailed report within a week. The probe commenced today and the report is expected shortly.
Meanwhile, the law minister, Ali Muhammad Sagar assured stern action against the culprits. Sagar visited Nishat today and expressed sympathy with the bereaved family. “The culprits shall be brought to justice”, he assured.
According to legal experts, the probe will not make much difference. The police have to investigate the incident and then prove the charges beyond any reasonable doubt in a court of law. As the identity of the killers has not been ascertained yet, the police have an uphill task to perform. Initially the CRPF was blamed for the killing. But today a spokesman of CRPF denied involvement in the killing. Last evening the BSF strongly denied its involvement in the incident. A BSF spokesman urged the media to report news after proper verification. This makes the task of police all the more difficult. After these statements, the police should not expect any cooperation from CRPF and the BSF.
And, even if the police investigation finds BSF or CRPF personnel involved in the shoot out, what options are available to the state government? The trial cannot commence unless government of India gives sanction to prosecution. Can New Delhi afford to give sanction in this sensitive case?
According to official sources, more than 400 applications seeking sanction to prosecute erring soldiers of army, BSF and the CRPF have been filed since 1990. Till date not a single application has been allowed. “The state government, therefore, will find itself in a tight corner after the investigation is completed”, remarked renowned human rights activist and senior counsel, Parvez Imroz.
Interestingly, Omar Abdullah has spoken repeatedly against the Armed Forces (Jammu Kashmir) Special Powers Act {AP(JK) SPA}. He assured a debate over the law in the legislative assembly and its subsequent repeal during his regime. But had to eat a humble pie when New Delhi refused to oblige him. A humiliated Omar could not face the public. His law minister conveyed to the people that the law was still needed. Section 6 of the Act makes it mandatory to get sanction to prosecution from government of India before putting central forces on trial.
The police, however, can come to the rescue of the government yet again, opines a Shopian lawyer. “The police will never identify the killers. The government may entrust the investigation to CBI ultimately”, he said.
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