Srinagar, July 12: The one-man panel appointed by the J&K government to probe the rape and murder of two women in Shopian appears to have gone soft onsecurity forces accused of the crimes and has instead said that the killings could be a result of a family feud. It said that the victims’ brothers could be suspects.
Pointing out that the conclusive evidence to identify the culprits has not been furnished because of various constraints, the panel said the involvement of some agency of the J&K police, in the present incident, cannot be completely ruled out.
Bodies of Neelofer (22) and her sister-in-law Asiya (17) were recovered from a stream on May 30 after they disappeared from their orchards in Shopian town the previous evening, sparking off massive protest by locals who suspected the hand of security personnel in the case.
In the face of public outcry across the Valley, the state government had on June 3 appointed a commission headed by Justice Muzaffar Ahmad Jan to investigate the circumstances leading to the deaths.
Although the panel in its final 400-page report submitted to the government last Tuesday has called for more investigation into the role of security forces personnel, it has also brought out new ‘‘facts” of the case. It has cast doubts on the moral character of one of the victims, Neelofer Jan, and her husband Shakeel Ahmad Ahanger, brother of second victim Asiya Jan.
It said Neelofer Jan belonged to a higher caste of Peer, whereas Shakeel came from Khaar family, which is included in the OBC category. The report said ever since the two eloped in 2007, Neelofer’s brother Syed Zeerak Shah, a constable in traffic department, was not happy with the marriage and had even threatened the Ahanger family of dire consequences. ‘‘The conduct of Zeerak Shah has been highly suspicious and objectionable after the death of Neelofar and Asiya Jan,” the commission said.
Zeerak is also accused of having instigated the people against the government. ‘‘A departmental action may be initiated against Shah,” the panel said. It also has said there was clear indication suggesting enmity between Neelofar’s maiden family and her in-laws.
‘‘Shakeel Ahanger does not carry a good reputation in the society and is being known for his immoral activities. His assets are quite disproportionate to his known sources of income, requiring investigation to work out the possibility of Shakeel and his friends/associates’ role in the present incident,” the report said.
During the probe, the commission found that after eloping with Neelofar, Ahanger had moved out of the district. He, however, returned and started his own business in readymade furniture and got separated from his family.
‘‘Despite the fact that he was taking care of education and other expenses of two sisters, Roomi and Asiya, and was meeting additional expenditure after the birth of his child, he purchased orchards and even a car,” the report pointed out.
Doubting the character of Neelofer, Justice Jan said she had ‘‘developed contacts” at an orchard in Nagabal, Shopian. ‘‘The examination of the witnesses has suggested that Neelofer, Roomi and Asyia Jan were frequent visitors to an orchard at Nagabal. During her visits in the last few months, Neelofar might have developed relations with other persons and Shakeel might have come to know about her relations,” the report said.
The panel, going beyond its terms of reference, has also criticized the role of the media in provoking people’s sentiments and called for ‘‘firm guidelines for reporting such news”.
—Agencies