29 years after civilian’s killing in IIOJK, HC orders replacement of SIT
#CustodialKilling
Srinagar: In occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the High Court has ordered the replacement of the head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) tasked with investigating the 1996 custodial killing of civilian Mohammad Ramzan Butt.
According to Kashmir Media Service, this decision comes after nearly three decades of relentless advocacy by his widow, Jameela Begum, who has sought justice for her husband, abducted and killed by Indian police personnel on May 31, 1996.
Justice Sanjay Dhar, in his judgment, expressed dissatisfaction with the SIT’s handling of the investigation, noting that it has progressed at a “snail’s pace” since its formation in October 2021. He emphasized the importance of accountability within Indian occupation forces and instructed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to ensure a thorough investigation into the involvement of officers, including the former Investigating Officer.
Hilal Khaliq Butt, SP Hazratbal, will now lead the SIT.
The court’s intervention follows Jameela’s protest against a closure report submitted by the SIT in April 2021, which she claimed was a cover-up to frame the incident as a fake encounter.
Jameela said that her husband was brutally beaten and subsequently killed inside Rainawari police station, demanding criminal proceedings against those involved. Her lawyer, Tabassum Rasool, criticized the prolonged delays in seeking justice, stating, “Such cases cry out for swift justice—if not now, then when?”
