Tahir Sofi Killing: Probe Panel to Submit Report Soon
BARAMULLA; 14, May 2013: Two months after a young scholar was shot dead by Indian Army troopers in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the commission probing the killing is likely to submit its findings to the government during the next few days, officials said Tuesday.
27-year-old Tahir Ahmad Sofi, of Ganai Hamam was killed while Mohammad Abbas Lallu, son of Farooq Ahmad, sustained injuries when troopers of 46 Rashtriya Rifles fired upon a group of youth near the Old Town Baramulla on March 5. His killing triggered massive pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations across the Valley.
Authorities had clamped curfew in major towns and districts of the Valley, and to calm the tempers, a magisterial probe was ordered by the government after police filed a case against the RR troopers. The government had also announced ex-gratia relief of Rs six lakh to the family, which was, however, rejected by the latter as ‘blood money’.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla, Ghulam Ahmad Khwaja told that the probe panel headed by Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Baramulla, Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, who was given one-month extension to probe the youth’s killing, is likely to file his report within days.
“The ADM is probing the incident. He might file the report within a few days. You should get into touch with him to know the status of the investigations,” Khwaja added.
Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, the enquiry officer, told that the probe is nearing completion and the findings will be submitted to the government soon.
“The findings of the investigations will be soon submitted to the government for further action,” he added.
Besides the magisterial probe, Indian Army had also ordered a parallel probe into the incident. Lt Gen K T Parnaik, GoC of the Northern Command, had ordered the Court of Inquiry (CoI), headed by a Brigadier. The CoI was constituted by Indian Army to probe the circumstances in which the youth was killed.
More than two dozen witnesses have recorded their statements before the ADM Baramulla. Besides, seven civilians and over 20 troopers have deposed before the Indian Army’s enquiry panel.
“Police has also recorded the statements of a few eyewitnesses. However, the statements of many key witnesses have not been recorded due to the reasons best known to police,” a family member of the martyred youth told.
27-year-old Tahir Ahmad Sofi, of Ganai Hamam was killed while Mohammad Abbas Lallu, son of Farooq Ahmad, sustained injuries when troopers of 46 Rashtriya Rifles fired upon a group of youth near the Old Town Baramulla on March 5. His killing triggered massive pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations across the Valley.
Authorities had clamped curfew in major towns and districts of the Valley, and to calm the tempers, a magisterial probe was ordered by the government after police filed a case against the RR troopers. The government had also announced ex-gratia relief of Rs six lakh to the family, which was, however, rejected by the latter as ‘blood money’.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla, Ghulam Ahmad Khwaja told that the probe panel headed by Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Baramulla, Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, who was given one-month extension to probe the youth’s killing, is likely to file his report within days.
“The ADM is probing the incident. He might file the report within a few days. You should get into touch with him to know the status of the investigations,” Khwaja added.
Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, the enquiry officer, told that the probe is nearing completion and the findings will be submitted to the government soon.
“The findings of the investigations will be soon submitted to the government for further action,” he added.
Besides the magisterial probe, Indian Army had also ordered a parallel probe into the incident. Lt Gen K T Parnaik, GoC of the Northern Command, had ordered the Court of Inquiry (CoI), headed by a Brigadier. The CoI was constituted by Indian Army to probe the circumstances in which the youth was killed.
More than two dozen witnesses have recorded their statements before the ADM Baramulla. Besides, seven civilians and over 20 troopers have deposed before the Indian Army’s enquiry panel.
“Police has also recorded the statements of a few eyewitnesses. However, the statements of many key witnesses have not been recorded due to the reasons best known to police,” a family member of the martyred youth told.
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