Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, June 28: The TADA court in Srinagar today directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer who investigated killing of over 50 civilians and destruction of over 500 shops and two dozen houses to personally appear before the court in next month.
The TADA court directed the CBI, and specifically, DSP Vijay Kumar Shukla, who investigated the case to appear on the next date of hearing (July 14, 2014). The direction was issued after court admitted a protest petition filed by the survivors of the January 1993 Sopore killing and destruction.
The survivors of the January 6, 1993 Sopore killings today filed a protest petition against the closure report filed by the CBI on December 4, 2013 before the TADA court, Srinagar. The protest petition seeks further investigations of the case.
It may be mentioned here that on January 6, 1993, 94th Battalion of Border Security Force (BSF) was attacked by militants in Sopore town and in the alleged retaliation of the BSF over 50 civilians were killed and two dozen were injured, and more than 500 shops and two dozen houses were destroyed. The Sopore chowk area was burnt down including the roadside areas of Shahabad, Bobimir Sahab, Muslim Peer, Shallapora and Kralteng and Samad Talkies, and the Women’s College located near the Sopore chowk.
The CBI has sought closure of the case on the grounds that the witnesses examined were unable to identify the BSF personnel involved in the incident and they could not give details of the firing or cross firing.
“Further, that a period of more than 20 years has already elapsed and the accused BSF personnel have already been tried for the alleged offences u/s 302, 307 and 436 RPC by the competent court established by law (General Security Force Court constituted under BSF Act, 1968) and convicted accordingly”, says the closure report.
The survivors through the protest petition contest the CBI report and state that it appears only 11 civilian witness statements have been taken. In reality, there are numerous witnesses whose evidence must be recorded by the CBI. “The CBI record already has names of 10 BSF officers/personnel who could be indicted in this case, including then DIG R.S. Jasrotia, Sector Headquarters, BSF, Baramulla and Commandant S Thanggapan, 94th Battalion, BSF”, the petition reads.
The petition reads that through RTI information gathered, it is clear that the court-martial process by the BSF was only an attempt to cover up the killings as the seven BSF personnel prosecuted were ultimately found guilty of only mischief (fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy houses, etc) and the maximum punishment awarded was 3 months rigorous imprisonment in force custody.
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