Police admit custodial killing of innocent youth

Srinagar, July 28: In Srinagar the Kashmir police has submitted a report to the High Court wherein they admitted that a Kangan resident, Mohammad Sadiq Kasana was killed in custody by two the Special Operation Group (SOG) officials in 2000.

The counsel of family of Sadiq Kasana asked the court to punish the whole unit and a compensation of Rs 20 lakh be given to them while the court reserved its judgment.

Deputy Superintendent Police, Jagtar Singh and SPO Hakim Din, who were later, killed in an attack by attackers, were the officials in whose custody the youth was killed. The SOG personnel and troopers of 198 Battalion of CRPF on November 9, 2000 killed Kasana, which resulted in massive demonstration in Kangan area. The troopers and police at that time claimed that Kasana was killed in Choonth Waliwar locality, where SOG had taken Kasana for supposed recovery of arms and ammunition.

The family member of Kasana said that he was innocent and killed in custody. Subsequently they filed a writ petition before the High Court in 2001. On the directives of the Court, Kangan Police Station was asked to investigate the case, the counsel defending the case on behalf of Kasana’s family, said. Following the massive protests Police filed FIR No.107/02 under section 302/RPC.
 
“During the investigation, it was established that Kasana was killed in custody by DSP, Jagtar Singh and SPO Hakim Din and the investigation labelled these two as main accused in the killing of Kasana”, he added.

“In the investigation, it was established that Kasana was killed in custody by DSP Jagtar Singh and SPO Hakim Din. The investigation labelled these two as main accused in the killing of Kasana,” the investigation report said.

“Although the police report says that the two SOG men Singh and Din were the prime accused and were killed later on in different militancy related incidents. But police later on declared the case closed.” Hussain added: “Our contention is that the whole unit is guilty into the custodial death of Kasana and thus whole unit should be punished, not the two men, who are no more now.”

He said “We filed another petition, saying that the whole unit should be declared guilty into the custodial murder of Kasana and a compensation of 20 lakh should be paid to victim’s family.”

Advocate Hussain pleaded before Justice Hakim Imtiyaz, when the case came up for hearing: “Why only these two men who are no more should be branded as accused. The whole unit of SOG should be declared guilty and Inspector Som Dutt, the then in charge of SOG unit should be arrested along with others.”

After hearing the both sides, Justice Hakim Imtiyaz reserved his final judgment into the case. Later on talking to Rising Kashmir Hussain said, “The judgment is now expected anytime. We expect a favourable verdict.”