HC directs constitution of SIT to probe disappearance of youth

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 4: High Court today directed the Inspector General of Police, Kashmir to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure the speedy investigation in the disappearance of a youth.
A Single Bench of the HC comprising Justice Ali Mohammad Magray ordered that in order to ensure speedy investigation into the disappearance case of Showkat Ahmad Paul of Lawaypora Srinagar, it has become necessary to direct constitution of SIT headed by a senior officer.
“The direction for constitution of SIT shall be taken within one week from the date of order is served on DGP and SIT so constituted shall take further investigation to its proper conclusion and file status report within six weeks,” ordered the court.
The Bench was hearing the disappearance case of one Showket Ahmad Paul from Lawaypora, Srinagar who is missing since June 23, 2003. Paul was perusing his BA in final years in Amar Singh College at the time of disappearance.
The missing son’s mother Farida in the writ petition has stated that his son didn’t return home compelling her to file a missing report at Parimpora Police station, Srinagar on June 24, 2003 and no investigation was conducted to look for whereabouts of her missing son and filed a complaint about it in State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on July 25, 2004.
Petitioner came to know that her son was picked up by Major Pratap of Kilo Force 2-RR stationed at HTM, Srinagar.
On direction of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar FIR No 8/05 under Section 364RPC was registered in police station Kothibagh on January 18, 2005 and SHRC on  November 16, 2007 also directed state to grant the desired relief to petitioner in terms of SRO 43.
The petitioner in its petition seeks direction upon SHO Kothibagh to produce all records/ police diary and report of investigation pertaining to FIR 8/05 and to give the status of the case and appraise High Court of the steps taken to trace out the missing person.