Constitute SIT to investigate ‘custodial killing’ of youth, demands JKHCBA | KNO

Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

Srinagar, March 19 (KNO) : J&K High Court Bar Association (JKHCBA), Srinagar, strongly condemned the ‘custodial killing’ of Rizwan Ahmad Pandit of Awantipora, who had been arrested by police Awantipora, some three days back and had been shifted to SOG Camp, Cargo Srinagar, where he died in custody, during the intervening night of 18/19th of March, 2019. According to a statement issued to KNO, JKHCBA said Rizwan Ahmad, who was a teacher by profession and was running his own school, 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.(KNO)