The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed contempt proceedings against top Kashmir police officers for failing to obey a court’s order to proceed against a DSP for allegedly gunning down a protester.
A Srinagar court on Monday forwarded a request to the Jammu and Kashmir high court for contempt proceedings against Kashmir’s inspector general of police Syed Javaid Mujtiba Geelani and Srinagar top cop Amit Kumar for ignoring its order to register an FIR against deputy superintend of police Yasir Qadri.
The Supreme Court, however, gave them relief after the Jammu and Kashmir government said the officers were not given time to challenge the decision.
“Criminal case can’t be lodged against police officers for death in police firing as it is done to control violent and unruly crowd,” attorney general Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for J&K government told, told the court.
The DSP had on July 10 shot dead Shabbir Ahmad Mir at point-blank range in their home in Tengpora area of Srinagar, Mir’s father has said in a complaint to the Srinagar chief judicial magistrate.
Mir’s death fanned anger against security forces in the Valley, which is in the grip of a violent unrest following the July 8 encounter death of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani.
{{/usCountry}}Mir’s death fanned anger against security forces in the Valley, which is in the grip of a violent unrest following the July 8 encounter death of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani.
{{/usCountry}}Police, who have refused to register the case, says Mir was leading a violent protest.
The CJM granted bail to the two officers but told them to appear before the high court on Tuesday morning.
The CJM had on July 18 and again on July 28 asked Kumar to file an FIR and open an investigation against Qadri and his team. The court issued non-bailable warrants against the SSP on July 30 after he failed to appear before it.
Over 50 people have been killed in the unrest in the Valley, where curfew continued for the 32nd day on Tuesday.
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