Jaleel Andrabi family to fight his case

A day after former army officer Avatar Singh, the main accused in the murder of lawyer-activist Jaleel Andrabi, committed suicide in the US, the latter's family and activists in Srinagar vowed on Monday to continue to fight the case. Major Avatar Singh on Sunday allegedly shot dead his wife, two children and himself.

A day after former army officer Avatar Singh, the main accused in the murder of lawyer-activist Jaleel Andrabi, committed suicide in the US, the latter's family and activists in Srinagar vowed on Monday to continue to fight the case. Major Avatar Singh on Sunday allegedly shot dead his wife, two children and himself.

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"We will not seek any closure in the case. A transparent inquiry should be held to book all the actors involved. There are six other security personnel involved in the killing. It's to be seen how he procured a passport and shifted (abroad) despite a murder case pending against him," the victim's younger brother, Arshid Andrabi, told Hindustan Times.

A special investigation team of the state police has named Singh in the arrest of Andrabi on March 8, 1996. His body was recovered on March 27, 1996, in the Jhelum.

The Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) – a human rights body documenting the cases of enforced disappearances – has accused Singh of similar involvement in other cases too.

"Singh had a prime role in the disappearances and killings of (seven persons). Among the victims were co-accused and eye witnesses in the Andrabi case," alleged JKCCS coordinator Khurram Pervaiz.

The rights body said the death of Singh "serves as an indictment of the India, including its functionaries".