Srinagar, Dec 23: The Commission of Inquiry, set up by the state Government to look into the killing of 17 out of 112 civilians this summer, has reportedly held responsible personnel of six battalions of paramilitary CRPF for the killings.
The two-member Commission comprising Justice Syed Bashir-ud-Din and Justice Y P Nargotra has issued notices to these battalions to submit their response by December 30.
Source said these CRPF battalions include 177, 179 and 53 from Baramulla and Sopore and others from Srinagar.
COI is inquiring into three killings at Islamabad (Anantnag) which took place on June 29, seven in Baramulla and Sopore between June 25 to June 28 and seven in Srinagar between June 12 to July 6. Secretary COI, Tariq Banday, said the commission initiated the process under law and issued required notifications to the concerned people. “COI received statements of facts, recorded statements of witnesses and received evidence produced before it by the parties concerned including representatives of the injured and those who died in the firing incidents at Baramulla, Sopore and Srinagar,” he said.
Commission recorded the statements of over 70 witnesses and took on record the official documents pertaining to the killings, he said.
He said Commission on consideration of evidence received deemed it appropriate to issue notices to paramilitary CRPF forces. “The personnel of concerned battalions are reported to have been involved in the firing incidents on the given dates,” he said.
Tariq said the Commission had completed 90 per cent inquiry into the killings and the remaining 10 per cent was likely to be completed by first week of January, 2011. In first week of January the matter would be taken up for consideration, preparation and endorsement of report to the Government, he said.
The setting up of an independent Commission of Inquiry was recommended by the All Party Meeting called by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in July.
A notification no. 283 of 2010 dated July 29, issued by the Law Department mentioned that the Commission would inquire into 17 killings from June 11 to July 19.
The mandate of the Commission is to inquire into the circumstances leading to the deaths, fix the responsibility where excessive force had been used, suggest measures to stop such incidents in future and recommend the punishment to those found guilty.
The Commission has been formed by virtue of Jammu and Kashmir Commission of Inquiries Act 1962 and enjoys judicial powers including to prosecute those who furnish false information to it.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST