By Manoj Khar, AIP
New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a detailed report from the Centre on a complaint alleging that security forces killed a civilian in a “fake encounter” and also fired at protesters in south Kashmir’s Shopian town recently.
Issuing notice to the Defence Secretary, the NHRC asked the government to submit the report of a magisterial inquiry into the incident along with the post-mortem and inquests report within ten weeks.
“…issue notice to the Secretary to the government of India, Defence, New Delhi calling for a detailed report including magisterial inquiry report, post-mortem report and inquest report within ten weeks,” the Commission said.
The Commission took cognisance of a May 29 complaint filed by a rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy who alleged that army personnel killed Gulam Mohammed and injured four other civilians in a “rampant fake encounter” in Sophian district on April 24.
“Two of the injured are in critical condition. Post-mortem, inquest and magisterial inquiry remains under suspicion,” he charged.
He pleaded that the Commission order an investigation into the incident and also sought adequate compensation for the dependents of the victims.
Mohammed was killed allegedly by the personnel of Rashtriya Rifles who mistook him for a militant.
Hundreds of people took to the streets to protest the killing. Four persons were injured as army troop allegedly opened fire to chase away the protesters who had set ablaze two of their vehicles.