Army not helping in probe of missing man, HC told

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 24

A Special Investigation Team of the J&K Police has accused the Army of not cooperating with it in a probe to trace the whereabouts of a Kupwara man missing since August 31.

The government had constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Additional Superintendent of Police, Kupwara, to trace the whereabouts of Manzoor Khan, a resident of Devar Lolab in Kupwara. Manzoor was detained by the Army along with another local Nasrullah Khan on August 31. While Nasrullah was released, Manzoor continues to remain missing.

“Multiple communications have been made with the Army authorities with regard to securing the presence of the Army personnel allegedly involved in the offence, but so far they have not appeared before the SIT,” read a status report submitted by the police in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

The Army has already ordered a Court of Inquiry, which is underway.

The High Court was today informed by the government that the SIT had visited the crime scene and also recorded the statements of witnesses. The report said that the investigation into the case was going on and strenuous efforts were being made to ascertain Manzoor’s whereabouts.

As protests rocked Kupwara after Manzoor went missing in August, General Officer Commanding, Chinar Corps, Lt Gen JS Sandhu had visited the district, where he had said a joint inquiry team of the police and the Army was investigating the case.

Manzoor’s brother had filed a petition before the High Court through advocate Nasir Qadri seeking his whereabouts.

In it status report, the police said that Jalal Din Khan had lodged a written complaint stating that he along with his nephew Manzoor and his sister Parveena had gone to Trimokha Behk, where they used to stay in summer.

“Manzoor went to the Army post sentry for making an entry. However, Manzoor did not come out of the camp, but was taken inside the camp by Major Nishant Kumar,” the family said in its complaint.

As the two kept waiting, the family of Nasrullah Khan of Diver, detained by the Army in the same camp on the same day, were also inquiring about him.

“In the meantime, locals gathered near the camp and created a hue and cry as a result of which Nasrullah was released after severe torture. Manzoor Khan is still under wrongful confinement of the Army, which intends to kill him,” the family complaint said.

Kupwara resident was detained on August 31 

• The government had constituted a Special Investigation Team, headed by Additional Superintendent of Police, Kupwara, to trace the whereabouts of Manzoor Khan, a resident of Devar Lolab in Kupwara 
• Manzoor was detained by the Army along with another local Nasrullah Khan on August 31. While Nasrullah was released, Manzoor continues to remain missing