SC puts on hold contempt proceedings against Kashmir police officials

New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday put on hold contempt proceedings against two senior Jammu and Kashmir Police officials for not registering an FIR against a Deputy Superintendent of Police for allegedly killing a young man during the ongoing protests in the state.

Seeking a report on the investigation into the violent incidents, including the complaint against the Deputy Superintendent of Police Yasir Qadri, the bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy, while putting the contempt proceedings on hold, said that there would be no arrests.

It directed the next hearing of the matter on August 12.

A Srinagar Judicial Magistrate had on July 18 ordered registration of fresh FIR against Qadri over the killing of 26-year-old Shabir Ahmed Mir. He had also directed that the case would be investigated by an officer who was not lower than the DSP in rank.

The state high court, while rejecting the state government's plea against the Judicial Magistrate's order, initiated contempt proceedings and asked both the Inspector General of Police, Kashmir and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, to be present before it.

Appearing for the J&K government, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the court that all the matters involving violent incidents, including the complaint involving the killing of Shabir Ahmed would be investigated under the FIR registered already.

He said that registration of a fresh FIR against the DSP as ordered by the Srinagar court would have a demoralising effect on the police force and their operations to control violent and unruly demonstrations.

The father of Shabir Ahmed Mir had filed complaint that his son was killed by Qadri on July 10 as he tried to intervene during the questioning of his mother by police.

Shabir Ahmed Mir had intervened after the DSP, along with other policemen, entered their house and assaulted his mother. He was then allegedly shot by the DSP.