Valley shuts on custodial killing in Sopore

Cops responsible for causing death of civilian by torture being arrested

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Aug 3: August 2011 is still no match to August 2010 when as many as 30 civilian protestors and arsonists died in Police and paramilitary firing in Kashmir valley in just first half of the month. The custodial killing of a 28-year-old in Sopore has, nevertheless, caused a major threat to the eight-month-long fragile peace. Valley today observed near-total shutdown on the separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s call, even as no significant incident of violence was reported from anywhere and most of the government offices functioned normally.

Geelani’s call, supported by head of the rival faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, evoked substantial response as most of the shops and business establishments, besides commercial transport, remained shut in the capital city as well as other major towns in Valley. Significantly, most of Geelani’s shutdown calls since October last year had been treated with contempt by the Kashmiris, who seemed pretty concerned today over the death of a youth in custody of SOG. Nazim Rashid Shala of Krankshivan Colony, Sopore, had died during severe physical torture when SOG interrogators allegedly attempted to get his confession in the assassination of two or three persons by militants.

Demonstrating his commitment to zero-tolerance of custodial killings by government agencies, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already ordered a slew of remedial measures. While a murder case has been filed against the SOG personnel, head of the SOG unit, Dy SP Ashiq Hussain Tak, has been attached. Three more personnel have been placed under suspension. In a significant development, SP Sopore, Altaf Khan, has been removed to a battalion of armed Police and one of the most competent SPs, namely Imtiyaz Hussain Mir, has been appointed as the district Police chief in Sopore. Besides, DIG North Kashmir, Munir Khan, is supervising a high level Police investigation and SDM Sopore, Mohammad Ahsan Mir, is separately conducting a magisterial inquiry.

Imtiyaz Mir today joined as SP Sopore over two years after his departure from the apple town. In 2006-09, this 1999-batch KPS officer had restored normality almost fully in Sopore.

Notwithstanding near-total shutdown today, large number of private vehicles operated in Valley as usual. Petrol pumps were also in business at several places. Most of the government offices and educational institutions, banks, offices of the Central government, bakeries and groceries functioned normally. With a modest Police and paramilitary deployment being in place at all “flashpoints”, there were no restrictions on civilian movement. Most of the separatist leaders either chose to remain indoors or were placed under “house arrest”.

Reports said that thin groups of youth gathered at four or five places in the capital city, besides at four places in Sopore and Baramulla towns. They shouted pro-Azadi and anti-India slogans and subsequently clashed with Police and CRPF. Responding to mild stone pelting by these groups, Police resorted to baton charge and firing of tearsmoke canisters to disperse the crowds. Demonstrators relented with little resistance but calm prevailed for whole of the day.

Today’s daily bulleting from Police Headquarters read: “Following a strike call by factions of separatists, situation remained normal and under control throughout Kashmir Valley today. There was no report of any untoward incident from any place. In most of the towns and Srinagar city, shops were partially open, and private traffic plied normally. At many places in Srinagar and other towns, public transport also plied”.

Authoritative sources, meanwhile, revealed that administrative action against the guilty personnel in Sopore was likely next week as all of them could be arrested and detained for questioning, if found involved in custodial killing of the Sopore youth. Police high ups maintained that they were waiting for the post mortem report. According to them, at least three SOG personnel, including a Sub Inspector, were likely to be arrested and prosecuted for violating Standard Operating Procedure of the custodial interrogation.

END