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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

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