HC constitutes SIT, passes strictures against police

Deserted look of District Court Complex Janipur due to lawyers’ strike on Tuesday. —Excelsior/Rakesh
Deserted look of District Court Complex Janipur due to lawyers’ strike on Tuesday. —Excelsior/Rakesh

*Bar extends strike till Aug 4

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 2: High Court today constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the mysterious disappearance of Advocate Raman Wazir, who is missing since July 31.
When the Bar Association representation, which was treated as Habeas Corpus petition by the Chief Justice, came up for hearing, Justice Tashi Rabstan observed, “more than 52 hours have lapsed since Advocate Raman Wazir has gone missing”, adding “keeping in view the fact that the police acts swiftly and always brings fruitful/desired results mostly in such cases where there is some pressure from higher-ups or the matter gains sensation or where there is keen interest of police, it is directed that the IGP Jammu as well as SSP Jammu would be held responsible if the police fails to bring the investigation to its logical end”.
Accordingly, the High Court constituted a Special Investigation Team comprising Shahzad Salaria, SP South,  Amit Sharma, SDPO, Nagrota,  Dalip Singh Billoweria, SHO Reasi, Parvez Sajjad, Inspector Crime Branch, Arvind Rathore, Senior PO High Court and Kunal Singh, Sub Inspector.
Justice Rabstan also directed DGP to issue orders in this regard today itself so that all these officers commence work immediately. “Till the desired results are achieved, the SIT would exclusively deal with the searching of missing Advocate”, he added.
Further, a team of members of the Bar headed by President Bar Association, Jammu Abhinav Sharma was constituted and this team will assist SIT in searching the missing Advocate. The members of the team are Senior Advocates B S Salathia, Sunil Sethi, Rajesh Kotwal, Advocates Subash Singh Jamwal and Abdul Rouf Lone.
“The team of Bar will only assist the SIT and provide necessary information as sought for. However, it will not interfere into the investigation or working of SIT”, Justice Rabstan said and directed the police to check the recording of CCTVs of the particular day wherever they are installed at National Highway right from Lakhanpur Toll Plaza up to Srinagar and towards Mughal Road via Rajouri.
Justice Rabstan also directed for listing the petition on August 4, when latest status report would also be filed.
Meanwhile, J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu has extended strike till August 4, 2016.
Due to strike by lawyers in protest against mysterious disappearance of Advocate Raman Wazir, entire complex of High Court as well as District Court Complex wore deserted look today.