By Agence India Press,
New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued notice to Jammu and Kashmir Police and Defence Secretary in connection with the alleged fake encounter in Poonch and directed them to submit the magisterial and other enquiry reports in the case within eight weeks.
The Commission has also asked the Superintendent of Police, Poonch to explain as to why the intimation regarding the death in police action was not reported to it within 48 hours in the prescribed format as per the NHRC revised guidelines communicated to all the Chief Ministers in May, 2010.
Taking cognizance of complaints that a civilian was shot dead by an SPO and an army jawan on August 7, the Commission issued notices to the Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Poonch and the Secretary, Ministry of Defence.
“The Commission has sought magisterial enquiry report, post-mortem report along with report of independent investigation within eight weeks,” an NHRC spokesman said.
It directed them to “take appropriate action with regard to the investigation of the case as per guidelines laid down by the Commission,” the spokesperson said.
The army on Sunday had claimed to have killed a Pakistani militant and divisional commander of Lashker-e-Taiba, Abu Usman, after a 12-hour gunbattle at Surankote area of Poonch district in Jammu region. However, during the probe it was found that the deceased was a civilian.
A Special Police Officer (SPO) Noor Hussain and an army soldier Abdul Majeed, who allegedly staged the killing of the unidentified mentally challenged civilian from Rajouri as part of a conspiracy to gain personal benefits were arrested and booked for murder on Monday.