Mainstream and separatist political parties are skeptical about the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report on the Shopian case presented before the state high court on Monday.
In its report, the agency had ruled out murder and rape of two women in the south Kashmir town.
A complete shutdown was observed in Kashmir valley against the CBI report that gave a clean chit to four police officers and 13 people, including six doctors, five lawyers and two civilians for fabricating evidences and hatching a conspiracy.
The report sparked off protests in several districts including Shopian. Hundreds of residents converged on the streets and raised anti-CBI slogans.
“We will continue our fight to seek justice,” said Mohammed Shafi Khan, spokesperson of the Majlis-e-Mashawarat Shopian, a
conglomerate spearheading the case for justice for the two victims.
Besides Shopian, there were reports of protests and stone pelting from Pulwama, Sopore and Baramulla. At least seven people were injured in Baramulla town when police used force and fired tear-gas shells to quell protesters.
In Srinagar, there was no traffic on roads and downtown and uptown Srinagar witnessed stone pelting incidents.
{{/usCountry}}In Srinagar, there was no traffic on roads and downtown and uptown Srinagar witnessed stone pelting incidents.
{{/usCountry}}Fire engulfed two houses in Bohri Kadal during a protest. Locals allege that the two houses were gutted in police shelling. The police, however, denied the allegation.
The bodies of Neelofar Jan (22) and Asiya Jan (17) were found near Rambi Ara Nallah on May 29. The family said the duo was raped and murdered by unknown people.
Rejecting the CBI report, Peoples Democratic Party appealed to President Pratibha Patil and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi to intervene.
“Our President and UPA chairperson Gandhi are women. The Shopian case is also related to women. I am asking them and appealing to the conscience of the nation to help get justice to the two women killed in Shopian,” said Mehbooba Mufti at a press conference.
She claimed that the CBI is trying to shield “some pseudo-nationalists”. “We thought that the state institutions failed us and reposed faith the Central institutions. Our party thought that the CBI will work above considerations of pseudo-
nationalism but Central institutions have failed us again in getting justice to the victims,” said Mufti.