Srinagar, March 19: J&K High Court Bar Association (JKHCBA), Srinagar, strongly condemned the ‘custodial killing’ of Rizwan Ahmad Pandit of Awantipora.
JKHCBA said Rizwan Ahmad, who was a teacher by profession was arrested by the police some six months back without any rhyme or reason and got detained under J&K Public Safety Act and lodged in District Jail Kathua.
“His detention order was however quashed by the High Court, but he was not released. Instead he was booked in a frivolous case by police Awantipora, in which case also, he got bail from a Pulwama court, but despite that he was kept in P/S Awantipora unlawfully, for about twenty days.
It was after 20 days’ unlawful detention, that he was released, only to be re-arrested by the police again some three days back and while in custody, he was tortured and killed,” the statement said.
The Bar Association demanded that the custodial killing of Rizwan Ahmad Pandit, an innocent teacher, should be investigated by a Special Investigation Team, which should report the result of the investigation on daily basis to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, so that those, who are responsible for the killing of an innocent person, do not go unpunished.
It also urged International Community to take notice of the custodial killing of Rizwan Ahmad Pandit and raise their voice against the massive human rights violations, which are taking place in the State of J&K at the hands of Indian forces, to suppress the demand of the people for their right of self-determination.
In order to record its protest and show solidarity with the members of the bereaved family, the Bar Association has decided to support the strike call given by the pro-freedom leadership for tomorrow.
Custodial death: ANC to knock doors of SC
Srinagar, Mar 19 : Awami National Conference (ANC) on Tuesday said that it has decided to knock the doors of Supreme Court over the custodial death of a youth from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district today.
ANC Senior Vice President, Muzaffar Ahmad Shah told KNS that the party will move to SC and will file a petition regarding the death of a youth in custody today. “We will not shed tears but will take prompt steps by moving straightly to the SC with taking the bereaved family on board.”
He said there are judgments where persons involved in the custodial killings have awarded death sentence and “we will also seek a stern action against those involved in the death of the youth.”
He said the decision to move to the SC has been taken as there are several such cases where the families are awaiting justice in the Valley. (KNS)
