Srinagar, June 21: Even after 10 days of the incident, police is yet to register the first information report (FIR) into the killing of the teenager, Tufail Matoo of Saida Kadal who died after being hit by teargas shell on June 12.
Tufail’s father Muhammad Ashraf Matoo had approached Police station Nowhatta for getting the case registered as his son was hit by the shell fired by police in Rajouri Kadal which falls within the jurisdiction of police station Nowhatta. But, according to Ashraf, the Station House Officer Nowhatta rejected his compliant saying the Maharaj Gunj police station was seized of the matter.
Police informed Ashraf that as per the rules, police station Nowhatta was duty bound to receive his compliant.
“It is unfortunate that the police being part of the society were so inhuman towards their own people. Police have shattered my dreams and are so arrogant that they are not registering the case,” the hapless father said. He has now sought court’s intervention to get the FIR registered.
Tufail’s autopsy report had confirmed that the boy had died after being hit by a teargas shell fired by the police.
The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate on June 18 directed the police to start investigations into the killing and submit the report within 10 days. A legal expert said for investigation of the case, registration of FIR was mandatory. “It is a cognizable offence. Somebody has been killed and police has to register the case first to proceed with the investigation.”
Senior High Court counsel Mian Abdul Qayoom said after the autopsy report having been made public, police should file the FIR.
Qayoom said they had filed an application before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Ibrahim Wani seeking directions to police for filing the FIR. In the complaint he said they had mentioned name of a woman who could recognize the police personnel involved in firing the teargas shell on Tufail. “Police had to go for identification parade for nabbing the culprit,” he said.
Talking to Greater Kashmir the inspector general of police Farooq Ahmad said they had ordered departmental inquiry into the killing. “We are investigating the killing and all aspects of the case will be looked into.” The DIG central, who is the investigation officer could question anyone to nab the culprit.
The SSP Javed Reyaz Bedar said he had not received the court order.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST