NHRC seeks report on Bandipora killing

NEW DELHI, July 31:
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today sought reports from the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir on the Bandipora encounter which had sparked protests by locals who claimed that the person allegedly killed by the Army was not a terrorist.
Observing that the allegations, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights, the Commission issued notices and asked Defence Secretary and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary to file reports on the matter within four weeks.
Hilal Ahmad Dar was killed allegedly in Army firing on July 24 night in Bandipora in north Kashmir, triggering protests by locals who claimed that he was an innocent local and not a militant.
Defence Minister A K Antony had ordered an inquiry into the incident overruling the Army and directed that strong action be taken against anybody found guilty.
NHRC said Army officials allegedly did not inform as to whether or not the deceased was involved in the encounter.
“An AK-47 rifle was recovered from the place of incident. The local people have, however, protested and claimed that the deceased was working as a guard in a private company and was not involved in the encounter,” the NHRC said. (PTI)