Khanabal killing 2010, J&K HC asks govt to status report

SRINAGAR : Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed government to file a status report with regard to sanction of prosecution of accused police personnel involved in the killing of two youths in south Kashmir district of Anantnag within two weeks.
The direction from a single bench of Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir came after latest status report filed again suggests that the filing of challan is awaiting the requisite sanction from the Government.
Deputy Advocate General Sajjad Ahmad Mir, submitted that the file is pending for consideration before Commissioner Secretary Home Department.
The court impleaded Commissioner Secretary Home as party respondent and directed to file latest status report within a period of two weeks from the date copy of this order is served upon him.
On September 18, 2010, Bilal Ahmad Najar and Noorul Amin Dagga were killed in alleged police firing when they were waiting outside a mosque at Khanabal, Anantnag to join the funeral prayers of a student Maroof Ahmad Nath, who had drowned in river Jehlum on September 13 after forces allegedly chased some boys. The body of Nath was recovered on September 18.
The family of the both the deceased youths filed a petition in the HC seeking a thorough probe.
In December 2013, the High Court had directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir to constitute Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by an officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police. Six of the prime witnesses into the killings have already deposed before the court of District Mobile Magistrate Anantnag and ascertained the role of a Deputy Superintendent of Police in the alleged targeted killings. The witnesses were produced before the Magistrate on the directions of Chief Judicial Magistrate Anantnag and their statements were recorded under 164-A of CRPC. (AGENCIES)