Srinagar, Mar 10: A probe conducted by Jammu and Kashmir Police into the “custodial murder” of a 30-year-old lecturer in August 2016 has held 23 Army personnel responsible for his death.
According to a report in ‘The Indian Express’, the police has sought sanction to prosecute the involved Army personnel as required under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
“The Army cooperated in the probe and allowed investigators to record statements of the Army personnel. Special Investigation Team, led by a DySP, completed the probe two weeks ago,” the newspaper report quoted SSP Awantipora Mohammad Zahid as saying.
“We haven’t filed a chargesheet yet. We will require sanction for prosecution under AFSPA for that,” the officer said, adding “I won’t be able to talk about the outcome of our investigation.”
On the night of August 17, 2016, Shabir Ahmad Mangoo, a 30-year-old college lecturer was beaten to death allegedly by Army personnel in Sharshali village of Khrew in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
“It was alleged that Army personnel had beaten village residents with wooden planks, iron rods and rifle butts,” the report said.
Army personnel “had barged into Shabir’s house, dragged him out and beaten him before taking him away. Residents said more than 20 youth from the village were taken away,” the report said about the incident.
