Probe Into My Son’s Killing an Eyewash, Says Father of Slain Baramulla Youth

Baramulla, April 1, KNT: Alleging that the investigation into the killing of Baramulla youth Tahir Ahmad Sofi lacked transparency and progress, the bereaved parents on Monday accused the Army of delaying justice and termed the ongoing Court of Inquiry an “eyewash.”

The family also claimed that a civilian who came forward as a witness to the incident was detained by police and released only after public protests.

“My son Tahir was killed in cold blood by personnel of 46 Rashtriya Rifles on March 5. Nearly a month has passed, yet no action has been taken against those responsible,” Tahir’s father, Ghulam Rasool Sofi, told KNT.

Questioning the pace of the investigation, Sofi said that in another case in south Kashmir’s Matan, police had arrested three youths within hours over the death of an auto-rickshaw driver despite the absence of eyewitnesses.

“In my son’s case, hundreds of people witnessed the incident, yet no one has been arrested. What kind of justice is this?” he asked.

Describing the Army’s time-bound Court of Inquiry as a mere formality, Sofi alleged that civilians were reluctant to depose before military authorities out of fear.

“The Army knows very well that no civilian will dare to appear before it as a witness. Even the police allegedly harassed a witness, Javid Hasan Najar, and tried to implicate him under Section 170 of the Criminal Procedure Code,” he claimed.

He further alleged that the district administration had failed to question the Army’s investigation.

“The Army sent us a notice asking us to appear before its Court of Inquiry. The letter was delivered through a civilian and reached us two days after it had been dispatched,” he said.

The slain youth’s mother, fighting back tears, described Tahir as a kind-hearted and academically bright young man.

“My son was murdered in cold blood. Those responsible must be arrested and punished,” she said.

Recalling the day of the incident, Sofi alleged that there was no stone-pelting in the area and that the overall situation, though tense, remained under control.

According to him, Tahir had taken ₹20 from him to buy a cricket ball before leaving to play at Idgah.

“I later called him and asked him to continue playing and not return home because Army personnel had entered the locality, allegedly ransacking houses and assaulting residents,” he said.

Sofi alleged that his son briefly returned to shift his vehicle to a safer place before proceeding to Kakar Hamam, where he sat with friends near the roadside.

“There were three Army vehicles on the road. Two soldiers got down from one vehicle and one of them fired two rounds. One bullet struck Tahir in the mouth, killing him on the spot,” he alleged.

He said Tahir had recently secured admission to pursue a PhD at Sikkim Manipal University.

Police had registered FIR No. 81/2013 under Section 302 of the Ranbir Penal Code in connection with the incident, while the district administration had also initiated a separate inquiry and recorded statements of several civilians.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Mansoor Ahmad Qadri, who is conducting the administrative inquiry, told KNT that the investigation was continuing.

“We have recorded the statements of various civilians and are in touch with the Army. The probe is still in progress and the report will be submitted once it is completed,” Qadri said. [KNT]

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