Almost 10 years after the ‘custodial killing’ of a Bandipora boy, Crime Branch Kashmir on Wednesday filed a charge-sheet against four policemen, including two officers, a selection grade, and a deceased SPO in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate.
In its final charge sheet in a case FIR No 125/2007 P/S Bandipora, the Crime Branch has indicted two police Officers 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 Late Farooq Ahmed Dar (SPO) – believed to be the main accused.
According to the charge-sheet, a copy of which lies with Greater Kashmir, 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.
Later, a magisterial inquiry was initiated under No.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 S/O 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 06, 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 did not agree with the investigation conducted by the local police and passed an order dated 12-12-2011 observing therein that the charge sheet has been presented against the dead person in order to evade action the officer and officials besides terming investigation as defective and shady, 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.