ASI among 2 more policemen arrested by CBI over constable’s custodial torture in J-K

The arrests come a month after the CBI registered a case on the directions of the Supreme Court. The case was registered on charges of attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, wrongful confinement  and voluntarily causing hurt

On July 21, the Supreme Court handed over the investigation of the case to the CBI and ordered it to ensure that those found responsible for the custodial torture of a policeman, Khurshid Ahmad Chouhan, are arrested “forthwith and not later than a period of one month” from July 22. The court set a deadline of 90 days from the registration of FIR for the CBI to complete the investigation.

On Wednesday, the central agency arrested DSP Ajaz Ahmad Sheikh, Sub Inspector Riyaz Ahmad, and four other policemen — Imtiyaz Ahmad, Hajagnir Ahmad, Shakir Ahmad and Mohammad Younis.

A constable in J&K Police, Chouhan was posted at District Police Lines (DPL) in Baramulla when he was summoned to report at the SSP office in Kupwara in February 2023 in a narcotics case. When he appeared before the Kupwara police, he was allegedly detained without legal sanction and subjected to custodial torture for six days.

Chouhan was severely injured and admitted to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar for treatment.

After the alleged custodial torture, Chouhan’s wife approached the J&K High Court seeking the registration of a case against the police personnel involved. However, her plea was dismissed, prompting her to move the apex court.

Terming the alleged torture “deeply shocking”, the Supreme Court ordered a CBI probe into the matter and a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to the victim. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta also asked the CBI to register an FIR within seven days.

“The Director, CBI, shall constitute an SIT headed by an officer not below the rank of SP to investigate this matter. The police officials found responsible for the custodial torture shall be arrested forthwith and not later than a period of one month from today. The investigation shall be completed within 90 days of the date of registration of the case,” the bench had said.

It also asked the CBI to “conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the systemic issues at the Joint Interrogation Centre, Kupwara”, where Constable Chouhan was allegedly “illegally detained and tortured, including examination of all CCTV systems, interrogation of all personnel present during the relevant period, forensic examination of the premises, and review of all protocols and procedures followed for detention and interrogation of suspects”.