Srinagar, February 16 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, a court in Srinagar has directed the authorities to take up the extradition matter of Major Avtar Singh, involved in the murder of prominent Kashmiri human rights activist, Jaleel Andrabi, with the concerned government agencies and Interpol in India.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar, Mohammad Ibrahim Wani, issued the directives after the prosecution moved an application praying to direct the authorities for the formal extradition proceedings to be initiated against Major Singh.

The judge also directed the Special Prosecution Officer (SPO) to file objections in an application moved by Mir Hafizullah, the counsel for Andrabi seeking reinvestigation of the matter.

In its letter forwarded to Interpol office in New Delhi dated November 25, 2009, the United States National Central Bureau (USNCB) of Interpol had confirmed the presence of Major Avtar Singh in California. It had asked the Interpol New Delhi to furnish the translated records of proceedings and certified version of conviction record, charge-sheet, and other relevant documents for the arrest and extradition of Major Avtar.

It is to mention here that Jaleel Andrabi was arrested by an army party led by Major Avtar Singh on March 8, 1996, and his body was recovered nineteen days after his disappearance. In April, 1997, the Special Investigation Team presented its initial findings to the High Court, revealing that Major Avtar Singh and other troopers were involved in abduction and killing of Jaleel.
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