Srinagar: Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ganderbal has been directed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the killing of a ranger in the Forest Department.
Ghulam Mohammad Lone who was allegedly killed by Nazir Ahmad Lone alias Nazir Gurra 18 years ago. A case under FIR no 33/1999 is registered in Kangan Police Station.
According to the order dated March 14 2017, the court of Sub-Judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ganderbal, directed SSP Ganderbal to constitute a special investigation team, carry out proper investigations and submit reports before the court. The case is next listed before the same court on March 30 2017.
Statement issued by the Human rights organization, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCS) reads that “On June 23 1999, Ghulam Mohammad Lone, a ranger in the Forest Department, was killed by Nazir Gurra and other Ikhwan for protesting the illegal cutting of trees in the area. While an FIR was filed, the police did not carry out investigations. After various efforts before the local administration and police, Abdul Qayoom Lone, the son of the victim, filed a writ petition before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in 2015. Before the High Court, SHO, Kangan Police Station, submitted a status report that the case had been closed as untraced on 29 September 1999 and submitted before the competent court on 20 March 2001”.
JKCS statement added, “The High Court, on May 2 2016, disposed off the petition and directed Abdul Qayoom Lone to approach the lower court for relief. But, as noted in the recent order of 14 March 2017, in reality no closure report was ever filed before the lower court and the SHO, Kangan Police Station “misinformed” the High Court”.
The statement further added “This case illustrates the various levels of obfuscations of the State to ensure impunity for State forces and their functionaries, such as the Ikhwan, accused of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir. The recent order of 14 March 2017 serves as another marker in the struggle for justice in this case”.
