STRUCTURES OF VIOLENCE
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476 | Structures of Violence<br />
it is highly unlikely that he would have shot himself on<br />
the left side of his head. This strongly suggests that the<br />
police version of events is wrong and Junaid Khuroo<br />
did not commit suicide.<br />
Case No. 196<br />
Victim Details<br />
Nazim Rashid Shalla [Abduction, Wrongful<br />
Connement, Torture and Extra-Judicial Killing<br />
(Custodial Killing)]<br />
Age: 28<br />
Son of: Abdul Rashid Shalla [retired police ofcer]<br />
Resident of: Alamdar Mohalla, Sopore, Baramulla<br />
District<br />
Alleged Perpetrators<br />
1. Head Constable Janak Raj, Jammu and<br />
Kashmir Police<br />
2. Selection Grade Constable Nissar Ahmad<br />
Malik, Jammu and Kashmir Police<br />
3. Selection Grade Constable Mohammad<br />
Abass Palla, Jammu and Kashmir Police<br />
4. Deputy Superintendent of Police [DSP] Ashiq<br />
Hussain Tak, Special Operations Group<br />
[SOG], Jammu and Kashmir Police<br />
5. Superintendent of Police [SP] Altaf Ahmad<br />
Khan, Jammu and Kashmir Police<br />
Case Information<br />
On 31 July 2011, Nazim Rashid Shalla died in police<br />
custody in Sopore, due to torture, following being<br />
picked up by a joint group of the SOG and the army.<br />
On 30 July 2011, at about 2:30 pm, a joint party of SOG<br />
and army came to the Nazim Rashid Shalla's shop and<br />
asked him to accompany them. The army personnel<br />
were headed by a Major from the Industrial Estate<br />
Camp, Sopore. Subsequently, two hours after Nazim<br />
Rashid Shalla had been taken, his father received a<br />
phone call from the same Major who informed him that<br />
Nazim Rashid Shalla had been found innocent and<br />
that the SOG, Sopore took him for further questioning.<br />
At 8:00 pm, the father of Nazim Rashid Shalla received<br />
a call from the SOG, Sopore, who asked him to talk to<br />
Nazim Rashid Shalla. Nazim Rashid Shalla told his<br />
father to get certain SIM cards and cell phones from his<br />
shop to the SOG Camp at the Town Hall, Sopore. The<br />
SOG informed the father of the victim that if he wanted<br />
his son alive he would do as he was told. On reaching<br />
the agreed location the SOG snatched the cell phones<br />
from the father of Nazim Rashid Shalla at the gate and<br />
asked him to return home.<br />
At about 9:30 pm the father of the victim received<br />
another phone call. Nazim Rashid Shalla told his<br />
father that he had been badly tortured and needed<br />
medication. The father of Nazim Rashid Shalla went to<br />
SOG Camp at about 10:00 pm and managed to enter<br />
into the Town Hall Camp. He saw Nazim Rashid Shalla<br />
on the oor in the DSP's ofcial chamber. Some SOG<br />
personnel were beating him and he was almost in an<br />
unconscious state. The father of Nazim Rashid Shalla<br />
was then thrown out of the camp. Subsequently, on the<br />
next day, the father of Nazim Rashid Shalla heard that<br />
the victim had died.<br />
First Information Report [FIR] No. 202 /2011 u/s 302<br />
[Murder], 201 [Causing disappearance of<br />
evidence/giving false information] Ranbir Penal Code,<br />
1989 [RPC] was led at the Sopore Police Station. A<br />
Special Investigating Team was constituted for the<br />
investigations. Head Constable Janak Raj, Senior<br />
Grade Constable Nissar Ahmad Malik and Senior<br />
Grade Constable Mohammad Abass Palla have been<br />
arrested. DSP Ashiq Hussain Tak was attached in the<br />
case and SP Altaf Ahmad Khan was transferred.<br />
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir appointed a<br />
Commission headed by the Deputy Commissioner<br />
[DC], Baramulla to enquire into the killing of Nazim<br />
Rashid Shalla.<br />
It appears that Nazim Rashid Shalla had been<br />
arrested in relation to FIR no. 9/2011 u/s 302 [Murder]<br />
Ranbir Penal Code, 1989 [RPC] and 7 [Prohibition of<br />
acquisition / possession / manufacture / sale of<br />
prohibited arms / ammunition] / 27 [Punishment for<br />
possessing arms etc. with intent to use them for<br />
unlawful purpose] Arms Act, 1959 led at the Tarzoo<br />
Police Station.The FIR relates to the killing of a person<br />
named Mohammad Ashraf Dar, son of Ghulam<br />
Mohammad Dar. It does not refer to the victim. This<br />
incident is said to have taken place on 8 August 2011.<br />
On 26 January 2012, DSP Ashiq Hussain Tak and SP<br />
Altaf Ahmad Khan were awarded gallantry awards.<br />
Further, alleged perpetrator Altaf Ahmad Khan has<br />
been awarded the Director General of Police's<br />
Commendation Medal for 2010, and more recently a<br />
Presidents Police Award for Gallantry on 15 August<br />
2012.<br />
Information on both FIR's was sought through the<br />
Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act, 2009<br />
[RTI] on 5 May 2012. No information was provided.<br />
Further, another RTI was led with specic questions<br />
on the case on 4 August 2011. A copy of FIR no.9/2011<br />
was provided. Further, information was provided by<br />
communication dated 3 February 2012 from the<br />
Jammu and Kashmir Police. Information was as<br />
follows [relevant portions are provided below]:<br />
- Nazim Rashid Shalla was arrested by DSP<br />
Operations Sopore on 30 July 2011 at about 2:30<br />
pm and was questioned by the DSP.<br />
- Nazim Rashid Shalla was detained in Police<br />
Component, Sopore<br />
- The “home people” of Nazim Rashid Shalla<br />
were informed<br />
- Nazim Rashid Shalla was found dead on 31<br />
July 2011 at about 7:00 am<br />
- The Block Medical Ofcer, Sopore declared