Srinagar, Jan 9: The Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has come down heavily on police for “biased and protracted” probe into the custodial killing of a civilian in 2009 and asked the government to get the case transferred to the Crime Branch for ensuring fair and transparent investigation “in the interest of delivery of justice”
 The SHRC had taken suo-moto cognizance of a news report ‘Civilian killed in custody’ published on May 19, 2009 in Greater Kashmir wherein it was stated that a civilian, Manzoor Ahmad Beigh son of Abdul Ahad Beigh of Allochibagh Srinagar was allegedly killed in custody of Special Operation Group of Police. The killing had triggered violent protests for many days in the Srinagar city which were subsided after Government had ordered a magisterial probe into the killing .
 The member SHRC, Abdul Rashid Khan, on the basis of inquiry conducted by the Commission’s Investigating Wing maintains in his judgment that Manzoor Ahmad was subjected to custodial torture and the investigation was facing inordinate delay. 
 “The Commission got the matter investigated through its Deputy Superintendent of Police. The enquiry officer in his findings has stated that torture of the deceased in Cargo Camp is a stark reality and also the investigation conducted by SDPO Shaheed Gunj seems to be biased. On examination of material available on record including the reports of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Director General of Police, and DSP SHRC, there is no doubt that the investigation being conducted by SDPO Shaheedgunj is protracted with no intention to conclude the probe,” the member observed.
 “It will be in the interest of delivery of justice, if the investigation is transferred to the State Crime Branch for fair and transparent investigation, as Inspector Khursheed Ahmad has exceeded his powers in summoning the deceased Manzoor Ahmad Beig in Cargo Camp Srinagar for settling the matter of a civil nature,” he states. 
 The member also maintained that the District Magistrate Srinagar had also conducted an inquiry into the matter and indicted the police officer. “The recommendation of the District Magistrate Srinagar that stringent action should be taken against the accused police officer to avoid occurrence of such incidents in future, has been supported by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir,” he states.  
 The Commission recommended to the Government through Chief Secretary to issue a direction to the DGP for getting the FIR (31/2009 under section (302) registered in Police Station Karan Nagar transferred to the Crime Branch for “fair and transparent investigation.”
 Pertinently, in its report to the Commission, the DGP maintains that the deceased was not involved in any subversive activity. The DGP states that the verification conducted reveals that the deceased Manzoor Ahmad was a broker dealing in car business and he had business dealings with another car broker of Nishat and owed Rs 40,000 to him.
 “On May 18, 2010 morning, Inspector Khurshid Ahmad of SOG Srinagar rang up Manzoor and asked him to report at SOG camp and he was taken inside. While as his friends who were accompanying were not allowed inside. After some time, the deceased is believed to have lost his consciousness and was reportedly taken to a private hospital at Gogjibagh where from he was referred to SMHS Hospital. However he was pronounced brought dead there. In this connection a FIR under section 302 was registered at Karan Nagar Police Station. Inspector Khurshid Ahmad has been placed under suspension. The deceased was not involved in any subversive activity,” the DGP states in the report.  
 However, Mushtaq Ahmad Beigh had filed a rejoinder before the Commission maintaining that his brother Manzoor Ahmad was brutally tortured inside the SOG camp Cargo.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 9 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 9 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST