Srinagar, August 29: Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday threw the ball in the state government’s court over transfer of the double rape-cum-murder of two women in Shopian to CBI saying it was up to the administration to take a decision.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Barin Ghosh and Justice Mohammed Yakub Mir, however, made it clear that if the probe is not done properly, it may take appropriate action.
“We leave the matter entirely to the discretion of the Government,” the bench said, adding that “none of our orders shall stand in the way of the government altering the investigating agency.”
It said since it was the duty of the government to investigate, “we feel that it is up to the government to decide through which agency it would have the crime investigated.”
“We make it clear that, we at the next stage of hearing of the matter, would enquire whether statutory channel of investigation has functioned properly in solving the mystery and if not we shall be constrained to take such steps as we may feel proper and in accordance with law,” the division bench said.
The court reminded the Government that it will remain vigilant till the mystery is solved and directed it to produce all the records on September 30 if the result of investigation is not encouraging.
Omar promises to fast-track probe
Asserting that at no point of time his government had shown any laxity in efforts to uncover the truth in the Shopian case, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today promised to “fast-track” the probe and ensure “severe punishment” to the culprits.
“Nobody involved in covering up the heinous crime will be tolerated…. There is no let up in the strong will of the government to punish the culprits of Shopian crime,” Omar said interacting with a women’s delegation here.
The Chief Minister said he would direct the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the incident to work round the clock and “make the investigation more pro-active” till the case is taken up by the CBI.
“There should not be any laxity in the investigation at any point in time,” he said.
Omar said he has made it clear number of times including on the occasion of Independence Day that his government is highly concerned about giving justice to the victims of Shopian crime.
“At no point in time, the government has shown any laxity in carrying forward its determination to uncover the truth and punish those behind the crime,” he told the delegation of Independent Women’s Initiative Group here.
Rs 20 lakh award for info on Shopian culprits
Jammu and Kashmir government tonight announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for any one providing information leading to the arrest of culprits in the rape and murder of two women in Shopian.
The announcement was made by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Earlier in the day, Omar assured a women’s delegation that “severe punishment” would be given to the culprits of the double rape-cum-murder incident.
“Nobody involved in covering or perpetuating to cover up the heinous crime will be tolerated…there is no let up in the strong will of government to punish the culprits of Shopian crime,” Omar said.
Two women were raped and killed in Shopian on May 30, a day after their abduction from their orchard.
-Agencies