Probe Panel confirms Rape and Murder of Shopian Women; 4 Policemen suspended

Srinagar: The one-man Justice (Retd) Muzzafar Jan Commission has confirmed that the two women, who were found dead at Shopian village, were raped and murdered. The commission indicted the cops and doctors for hiding the truth. There was a hue and cry over the death of Shopian women and protesters had demanded justice for them, accusing the police of a cover-up.

The J&K government acted fast on the report and suspended former Superintendent of Police Javed Iqbal, deputy SP Rohit Basgotra, SHO Shafiq Ahmed and a Sub-Inspector. An official of the Forensic Science Laboratory, was also put under suspension.

The commission held the J&K Police responsible for destroying evidence and expressed suspicion that they could be involved in the crime. J&K DGP Kuldeep Khoda has asked IG(CID) Farooq Khan to conduct a probe into the lapses mentioned in the interim report submitted by Justice Jan Commission.

The Commission has not yet shed any light into the cause of the death of two Shopian women. The investigation is still on. Justice Jan has also recommended action against some medical officials.