KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Jammu and Kashmir Police has indicted a brigadier-rank army officer found to have been involved in the custodial disappearance of a chemist from Rawalpora locality some 14 years ago, reports said.
The team has invoked the charges of abduction, murder and destruction of evidence against an army officer, who is now a brigadier. According to reports, the team is awaiting the Centre’s nod to prosecute the officer.
Manzoor Ahmad Dar (then 35), working as a chemist, was picked up from his home at Rawalpora by unidentified gunmen during the intervening night of January 18-19 in 2002.
Police filed an FIR under section 364 of RPC against Army’s 35 Rashtriya Rifles following protests. During the investigation, Major Kishore Malhotra’s name surfaced as an accused.
“The custodial disappearance has occurred nearly about 14 years ago which clearly indicates that the disappeared person could have died in custody of 35 RR and accordingly section 302 (murder) of RPC is invoked,” the status report, filed by the SIT, in High Court, reads.
The SIT filed the report in pursuance to the direction by the HC during the hearing of a petition filed by Dar’s wife Jana.
