Srinagar, July 27 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, the High Court has asked the Indian Home Ministry as well as the authorities of the territory to respond to a fresh Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking time-bound probe into the custodial death of Rizwan Assad Pandith, a teacher from Awantipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district who was killed in police custody in March this year.
The Anti-Corruption Council of India, through its signatory, Mohammad Kamran Khan from Uttar Pradesh, filed the PIL before Division Bench of the High Court. Acting on the PIL, the High Court issued notice and called for response to the litigation within four weeks.
The petition stated that the killing of Rizwan was a cold-blooded murder in which the police had conspired, torturing Rizwan Pandit till he died. “It is a matter of great concern and also gross violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 21 and 22 of the Indian Constitution,” the petition said.
The petition mentioned that the intentions of police officials is suspicious as after three days of the custodial death of Rizwan Pandit, an FIR was lodged against the deceased for an attempt to escape from the police vehicle on way to a location in south Kashmir.
It is pertinent to mention that the FIR was lodged after three days of the death of Rizwan Pandit in police custody, but it is surprising and shocking that the FIR has not been lodged in any of the three main police stations of Pulwama district – Awantipora, Pampore and Tral – but lodged in Khrew police station,” the petition pointed out.
