Police clean chit to cab driver killed in shootout

Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, December 12

The police have given a clean chit to a cab driver from south Kashmir, who was killed in a shootout between militants and security forces in May this year, when security forces had intercepted his vehicle at a checkpoint in the Kakpora area of Pulwama district.

Following the report from the police, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has now directed the authorities concerned to grant appropriate ex gratia to the victim’s family as per the law and file an action taken report within six weeks.

Bilal Ahmad Ganai, hailing from Narwa village of Pulwama, was killed during the intervening night of May 27-28, 2018, when 50 Rashtriya Rifles personnel in Kakapora were chasing a group of militants, who had earlier fired upon their camp.

In his complaint before the SHRC filed through human rights activist M Ahsan Untoo, the father of the slain cab driver had claimed that his son was innocent and was killed in crossfire between the militants and the security forces on that night. “A detailed report has been given by the Pulwama SSP. He (SSP) has accepted that Bilal was killed in an encounter but he was not involved in any militant/subversive activity,” SHRC chairman Justice (retired) Bilal Nazki said in his orders made available on Wednesday.

“In view of the SSP’s report, the Deputy Commissioner is directed to consider the case of the petitioner for grant of appropriate relief in terms of the relevant SRO”, the SHRC said, adding that the authorities concerned should file an action taken report in this regard within six weeks.

On May 28, the Pulwama SSP had told reporters that three or four militants had intercepted Bilal’s Sumo cab while he was going somewhere along with his younger brother, Mehraj-ud-din.

As per the police, the exchange of fire was triggered after the militants had opened indiscriminate fire at the Army camp in Kakapora, after which they were chased by Army men up to a kilometre.