J&K fake kills: Army, CRPF role being probed

As Jammu and Kashmir police were busy documenting the evidence collected so far in fake encounter killings, efforts were on to establish the role of army and the Central Reserve Police Force in these incidents and bring them before the law.

The focus of the Special Investigating Team, headed by Deputy Inspector General Farooq Ahmad, is on the role of Army and CRPF units, which were allegedly involved in the fake encounter of carpenter Abdul Rehman Paddar and four others.

While Ahmed remained silent over the role of army and CRPF, he, said, "We are documenting the evidence collected so far and file a charge sheet within the stipulated 60 days."

The police have collected the DNA samples of the bodies and kin of the victims, which had been sent for matching in forensic laboratory at Chandigarh.

The entire case came to light during an investigation into a missing complaint of Ganderbal resident Paddar who had not returned home after December eight last year. His mobile phone details led to the arrest of a police constable and later investigations also led to the nabbing of three more policemen, including that of a rank of senior superintendent of police on charges of murder.

The army and CRPF, on their own, were conducting an inquiry into the cases.

As the probe was on, the issue echoed in the state assembly where some legislators demanded stern action against the erring cops. Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad made it clear on the floor of House that no one involved in fake encounters would be spared.

Deputy Inspector General of Farooq Ahmed, who is heading Special Investigating team probing the fake encounters, told PTI that the police was now piecing all the evidence collected so far.

In a related development, a mob on Monday tried to set ablaze a cow shed belonging to Constable Farooq Ahmad Paddar, alleged to be a key accused in the fake encounter killing of the carpenter.

However, the fire was immediately brought under control by police. The mob later pelted stones at the houses of the policeman and that of his brother but were chased away by the police.

Meanwhile, protests by common people against fake encounter killings continued and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yaseen Malik has called a Kashmir bandh on Tuesday.