Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 17: The State High Court today directed the State Government to file its response in the context of `assailant’s’ identity in the Janglat Mandi encounter case involving Army Chief designate General Bikram Singh.
Justice Hasnain Masoodi directed the State Government to file its response in two weeks to the plea made by the petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Zaffar Ahmad Qureshi, in which he questioned the identity of the ‘assailant’ and not the genuineness of the 2001 Janglat Mandi encounter.
Advocate Qureshi in his argument told the court that he didn’t doubt the genuineness of the Janglat Mandi encounter but questioned the identity of the ‘assailant’ whom police and army described as Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Mateen Chaha, of Pakistan while petitioner claimed that he was Abdullah Bhat of Kalaroos, Kupwara.
Justice Masoodi adjourned the hearing of the case as Additional Advocate General Ali Mohammad Magray informed the court that Advocate General Mohammad Ishaq Qadri was not available to argue the case.
The judge directed that the case be listed after two weeks for hearing, subject to availability of the bench, when the State Government and the Union of India will argue the case. Senior advocate and counsel for the Union of India, K S Johal, who had come from Jammu to argue the case, left for Jammu soon after the case was adjourned.
Advocate Qureshi today reiterated his plea for carrying out a DNA test on the body of the man claimed to be Pakistani militant Mateen Chacha. He said that in case the DNA test proved that he was not Abdullah Bhat of Kalaroos, Kupwara, then they have no issues. If the DNA test proved that he is Abdullah Bhat then elaborate investigations needed to be conducted, Advocate Qureshi told the Court.
Advocate Qureshi said that whereabouts of Abdullah Bhat were not known since the encounter took place and he fell in the category of missing persons.
Today’s direction by the court to the State to file response in context of identity of the assailant was a breather for Gen Singh, who is due to take over as Chief of Army staff on May 31.
It may be mentioned here that a woman, Zaituna Begam, from Kalaroos in district Kupwara, has filed a petition before the High Court claiming that the slain person dubbed as Hizbul Mujahideen militant Mateen Chacha was her son Abdullah Bhat. But Army said he was a militant disguised as a beggar who opened fire on Army at Janglat Mandi in Anantnag on March 1, 2001.
One Army officer, an Army jawan and two civilians were also killed in the incident, in which General Singh who was then commanding 1 Sector Rashtriya Rifles was injured and flown to Delhi.
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