Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar
Srinagar, Dec 30: The principal district and sessions judge of Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday granted bail to eight police personnel accused in a high-profile custodial torture case that is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI on the directions of the Supreme Court.
Those granted bail include Deputy Superintendent of Police Aijaz Ahmad, Sub-Inspector Riyaz Ahmad Mir, Special Police Officer Jahangeer Ahmad Beigh, Head Constables Mohammad Younis Khan and Tanveer Ahmad Malla, Selection Grade Constables Shakir Hussain Khoja and Altaf Hussain Bhat, and Constable Shahnawaz Ahmad. All eight were arrested by the CBI in August and have since been lodged in central jail.
As per the court order, each accused has been directed to submit personal and surety bonds amounting to Rs 1 lac. The court has also imposed strict conditions, barring them from leaving the court’s territorial jurisdiction without prior approval. Any accused holding a passport must surrender it to the court.
The judge further directed that the accused must not attempt to influence witnesses, tamper with evidence, or interfere with the prosecution in any manner. They are required to attend all trial proceedings unless specifically exempted. The order warned that any violation of these conditions could result in cancellation of bail.
The case relates to the alleged illegal detention and custodial torture of serving police constable Khursheed Ahmad Chohan at the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) in Kupwara. Taking serious note of the matter, the Supreme Court had transferred the investigation to the CBI, describing the case as a grave example of abuse of power and institutional failure.
Along with ordering a probe, the apex court also directed the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to pay Rs 50 lac as constitutional compensation to the victim for violation of his fundamental right to life under Article 21. The court ruled that the amount could later be recovered from the guilty officers after departmental proceedings.
The Supreme Court also quashed a retaliatory FIR registered against the victim under charges of attempted suicide, terming it baseless, and ordered the immediate arrest of the officials allegedly involved. In addition, the CBI was tasked with examining broader systemic lapses and accountability issues at the JIC.
In its judgment, the apex court rejected the state’s claim that the injuries were self-inflicted, holding that medical evidence clearly contradicted such assertions. The bench observed that the narrative of an attempted suicide was untenable and appeared to be designed to shield those responsible.
Calling the matter one of exceptional seriousness, the Supreme Court said the facts pointed to custodial abuse of an extreme nature and underscored the urgent need for accountability and institutional reform.