The rights body Amnesty International (AI) on Monday said it will take up the issue of extradition of Major Avtar Singh, accused in the killing of human rights activist Jaleel Andrabi, with external affairs ministry soon.
“We raised the issue with Union home secretary G.K Pillai on March 17. He assured that the home ministry will not block judicial action against anyone involved in human rights abuses,” said AI’s India chapter head Vikram Jeet Batra.
Batra said the government of India should put pressure to extradite Avtar Singh and “translate its lofty words into action”. “We will take up the (Andrabi) issue with the External Affairs ministry,” said Batra.
Advocate Andrabi, a renowned human right activist and high Court lawyer disappeared on March 8, 1996 near Barazulla locality of Srinagar when he was driving home with his wife. His badly mutilated and tortured body was fished out from Jehlulm river near Kursu Rajbagh locality of Srinagar on March 27, 1996.
Singh, prime accused in the Andrabi case, came into limelight recently after he was arrested by the California police in the United States following a complaint by his wife.
{{/usCountry}}Singh, prime accused in the Andrabi case, came into limelight recently after he was arrested by the California police in the United States following a complaint by his wife.
{{/usCountry}}The security agencies were clueless about the whereabouts of Singh. The J-K police have procured warrants against Singh and are waiting for his extradition.
“We welcome AI support, for that matter anybody, who supports extradition of Singh and bring him to the book,” said advocate Arshad Andrabi, the victim’s borther.
Singh served with the army’s 35 Rashtriya Rifles in Srinagar in 1996.