The Supreme Court on Friday directed that the body of a Kashmiri youth allegedly killed by the police be exhumed and an autopsy conducted, in the backdrop of tensions in the State, even as the Jammu and Kashmir government pledged support in the court to uncover the truth about his death.
A Bench of Justices P.C. Ghose and Amitava Roy directed that the exhumation and autopsy should be done under the supervision of the District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar.
Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the State, assured the court the highest level of transparency.
The Bench ordered that the entire exercise be completed within three weeks before posting the matter for further hearing on September 5.
It underlined that the death of the youth, Shabir Ahmed Mir, cannot be brushed under the carpet by believing the State’s version that he was shot dead while the police were trying to control a mob at Tengpora in Batamaloo area of Srinagar on July 10.
Police shot him: Father
The victim's father, Abdul Rehman Mir, contends that the police had shot dead his son in their house. The court passed the order after perusing the report submitted by the police on the circumstances leading to the death.
The report, which was filed in a sealed cover, also contained the order of the District Magistrate who had directed exhumation and autopsy of the body of the victim.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the victim’s father, said the autopsy would determine whether the victim was killed as a result of pellet firing or a gun shot.
