Police admit youth’s custodial killing after 15 years in IOK

Srinagar, February 17, 2018 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the police have admitted that the killing of a youth, Abdul Hameed Ganai, by Indian troops in 2003 in Ganderbal district was a case of custodial killing. Abdul Hameed Ganai was killed on September 11, 2003 in Ganderbal district and a petition was filed in the Human Rights Commission of the territory by the brother of the killed person, Abdul Rasheed Ganai, and human rights activist, Muhammad Ahsan Untoo, in 2013.

The petitioner had stated that Abdul Hameed Ganai was taken into custody by the personnel of Special Operations Group of Indian police (SOG) against whom case was registered under various sections of penal code. The petitioner had asked the commission to take cognisance of the matter and direct the police to furnish the status report regarding the FIR and ask the investigation wing of the commission to conduct inquiry in the case.

In 2017, the police submitted a report before the commission stating that it was a case of custodial killing and the forces associated with the operation were denying the possession of the case file. Meanwhile, the Commission is contemplating to issue an arrest warrant against Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Ganderbal for failing to appear in person before the commission in connection with granting of compensation to the persons killed in Ganderbal fake encounter.

Human rights activist, Muhammad Ahsan Untoo, who is also the petitioner of the case, said that police in a reply had stated that the statements of some new witnesses have been recorded and correspondence had been made with Indian Army and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force to ensure the presence of eyewitnesses for recording their statements.

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