Plea in HC: Khoda gave arms for fake encounter

A petition filed in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court today alleges that DGP Kuldeep Khoda had a role to play in the killings of three villagers in a fake encounter in 1996.

The petition,filed by advocate Parvez Imroz on behalf of the wives of two of the victims points to questions raised by the sessions court regarding the silence of the prosecution on the role of the police especially because a police vehicle,police personnel and arms were used for the kidnapping and subsequent murders.

While acquitting the main accused Ashraf,Bhaderwah sessions judge Bihari Lal Bhat had termed the prosecution case as strange,and asked why,if Ashrafs conduct wasnt good,he and his companions were provided with all kinds of police assistance including a police truck.

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The government did not appeal the acquittal in a higher court.

The Indian Express had first reported that the Crime Branch investigation had indicted Khoda for his role in the killings. The J&K government has,however,remained silent,and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has refused to comment.

The petition lists several alleged facts which,according to the petitioners,indicate Khodas culpability. Some of them:

Then DIG Khoda met the main accused Ashraf and his associates before and after the triple murder.

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Khoda provided the police truck and ordered a police driver to be on duty with the perpetrators from January 1-4 1996. The alleged abduction and murder took place on January 3,1996.

Khoda provided the arms and ammunition used in the crime.

After the crime,police driver Shadi Lal appeared before Khoda and informed him that Ashraf and his accomplices had kidnapped and killed the three villagers. Khoda did not take cognizance of the crime.

The petition has alleged that investigations carried out by the police were aimed at shielding the top police officials involved. The charge sheet in Sessions Court Bhaderwah was produced based on the police station Bhaderwahs investigation and the Crime Branch investigation never found its way to Sessions Court,Bhaderwah…, reads the petition.