Srinagar, June 17: Confusion hovers over the status of the autopsy report about the killing of teenaged Tufail Ahmad Matoo allegedly in police action in Rajouri Kadal on past Friday.
While police says it has formally approached the Government Medical College, Srinagar, for the autopsy report, the latter says there was no communication with police over the matter.
“As far as I know, the Senior Superintendent of Police has formally approached the GMC Principal for the autopsy report,” said the inspector general of police, Kashmir zone, Farooq Ahmad.
The GMC principal, Dr Shahida Mir, however, said: “I haven’t received any communication from the SSP with regard to the autopsy. All I know is that the authorities wanted a doctor from GMC to be incorporated in the team conducting the autopsy. As on date, we don’t have any forensic expert here. But I suggested a pathologist. I think they have submitted the preliminary report to the Medical Superintendent, Police Control Room. Beyond that GMC is not involved in it.”
Tufail Matoo of Saida Kadal here was killed due to a ‘teargas shell’ at Rajouri Kadal on last Friday, triggering massive protests across the city.
The deputy commissioner, Srinagar, Meraj Ahmad Kakroo, said he was yet to receive the report. “Medical team is yet to submit it to me,” he said. “Besides a doctor each from GMC and Health Department, we incorporated two doctors in conducting the autopsy who were known to the family and the whole exercise was filmed. It may take them a little more time to submit the report because there are technicalities involved. We want to do it in a fair and transparent manner.”
He said the report would be shared with media as and when it was submitted. “There is nothing to hide. We will share the details with press,” Kakroo said.
While there is lack of clarity over the autopsy report status, confusing statements from the concerned agencies are making things worse.
Legal experts believe the government or police should share the information with people. “It (investigation) into Tufail’s killing is a public thing. There is no secrecy in it. So they must share the information with the public, especially the media,” said noted legal expert, Mian Abdul Qayoom.
He said it was not fair to hide information in the case. “The case is also being monitored by the court. So the police or government has to update the court also about the developments in the case,” Qayoom said.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST