Srinagar, Mar 24: The Court of Principal and Districts Sessions Judge has completed the cross-examination of one of the witnesses in the killing of a contractor, Ali Muhammad Mir, allegedly by a government gunman, Papa Kishtwari.
 The Court recorded the statement of the witness Abdul Rehman who had deposed that he saw the deceased being bundled in a white gypsy (7476-JK02E) near the Grand Palace Hotel here on June 26, 1996.  
 He said Mir had gone to fetch medicine for his father but didn’t return.
 “For 13 years, I didn’t disclose the gypsy’s number due to fear,” he said.
 The Public Prosecutor A A Teli also produced another witness Head Constable Muhammad Hussain before the Court. Hussain deposed that he was Personal Security Officer of Kishtwari from 1997-1998.
 “I don’t know whether the other two accused, Ghulam Rasool and Khursheed Ahmad were working with Kishtwari or not.”
 Meanwhile on Kishtwari’s application the Court allowed him to talk with his family members on phone.
 Subsequently, the Court directed the prosecution to produce further witnesses on next date of hearing on April 10.
 Pertinently, Mir’s son Zahoor Ahmad had lodged a case in Police Station Nishat accusing Kishtwari of being involved in his disappearance. Zahoor had alleged that on the same night his father was killed at Frestabal, Pampore allegedly by Kishtwari and his associates and later his body was thrown in Jehlum.
 Police had lodged an FIR (16/2007) under section 302, 342, 364, 201, 120B RPC in Nishat Police Station against Kishtwari. 
 Incidentally, Kishtwari was arrested by police in 2007 when his attempts to encroach upon on a local graveyard triggered massive protests. Kishtwari had also unsuccessfully contested Assembly elections in 1996. He has remained under security for 12 years.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST