Army officer held for killing J&K human rights activist
Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar
A Jammu and Kashmir police special investigation team arrested an army officer allegedly involved in the arrest and subsequent murder of Jalil Andrabi, a noted human rights activist.
Police sources said the accused, Major Avatar Singh, was arrested by the team in the North-East, where his unit is posted, and brought to Srinagar two days ago. The arrest followed directions by a division bench of the Jammu and Kashmir high court last month which ordered that Major Avatar Singh's properties be attached. The bench comprised Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice R C Gandhi.
The directions came after the SIT submitted it had found Major Avatar 'directly involved in the murder'. The high court is hearing the case regarding the alleged custodial murder of Andrabi, whose body was found in a marsh.
Andrabi's wife said he was picked up by security forces in March 1996 while he was returning home in uptown Srinagar. His death sparked widespread anger in the valley. Amnesty International, the human rights organisation, condemned the Kashmir lawyer's killing and demanded an inquiry. The high court later constituted the SIT, headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police S K Mishra, to probe the matter.
The court had last month declared the major, a Rashtriya Rifles officer, as a 'proclaimed offender'. Sources said Major Avatar Singh will be produced before the division bench later this month.
Andrabi's wife said he was killed few days before his scheduled departure to Geneva to attend a seminar on human rights. Major Avatar Singh is being kept under tight security at the Kothibagh police station.
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