Srinagar, July 26: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has taken strong notice of alleged custodial killing of a youth in north Kashmir’s Varmul district, maintaining that killing of innocents won’t be tolerated.
Taking suo-moto cognizance of the alleged custodial killing of Tariq Ahmad Dar of Rafiabad on Sunday, the Commission Monday shot notices to Government and Police to file a factual report on the matter.
“This Commission is grieved at the death of the youth in police lock-up. We want to maintain that any person who has been taken into custody and dies in lock-up in suspicious circumstances, death by police is one of the presumptions. It is for the concerned police to prove otherwise,” Chairperson of SHRC, Justice (Retd) Bashir-ud-din told Greater Kashmir.
Justice Bashir-ud-Din said by virtue of Article 22, any person who is arrested and detained in custody shall be produced within 24 hours before the nearest magistrate.  “No such person shall be detained in custody beyond the said period without the authority of a magistrate. It is a matter of investigation whether Tariq was on police remand or not. In case it is found that he was detained illegally, it will make the case against the concerned policemen strong,” he said.
The chairperson said by virtue of the newspaper reports quoting the doctors who conducted the autopsy, torture marks were found on the deceased’s body. “Police is meant to protect the lives of civilians. It is the responsibility of police to respect the basic rights of a person even if in their custody. No law justifies custodial killings,” the Chairperson observed.
The Chairperson said though the Government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, the Commission will closely monitor the case. The Commission asked the Government and Police through the Deputy Commissioner Varmul and Special Inspector General of Police for North Kashmir to file a factual report in the incident.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST