Insta
Kathua Case: Bar Council Of India Supports Jammu Lawyers, Backs Demand For CBI Probe In Report To SC
Jammu lawyers demanding CBI probe in the Kathua case. (pic via Twitter)
Coming as a shot in the arm for Jammu lawyers protesting against an allegedly unfair investigation by the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) police into the Kathua incident, the Bar Council of India has backed the lawyers’ demand for the matter to be handed over to the CBI, NDTV has reported.
The pan-India Bar Council has communicated the same to the Supreme Court (SC) in a report prepared by a probe team it sent to J&K. The team was led by a retired High Court judge and has given the Jammu lawyers a clean chit over their alleged misbehaviour.
The lawyers were earlier pulled up by the apex court for their protest against the chargesheet being filed by the J&K police. The lawyers had then claimed that the chargesheet being filed was prepared under political pressure from the Mehbooba Mufti led PDP government, and the J&K police investigation’s impartiality was suspect.
National media, however, had portrayed the Jammu lawyers demand for an impartial CBI probe as their support for the accused after which they faced unfair nationwide condemnation.
The lawyers protest though, invoked a groundswell of local support in Jammu with locals questioning the credentials of the police team constituted by the J&K government to probe the case. Irfan Wani, a member of the police team probing the case had earlier faced charges of rape of a Hindu girl and custodial death of her brother in 2007.
The J&K Bar Council meanwhile also denied all allegations of having obstructed Deepika Rajawat, the lawyer representing the victim’s family, from taking up the case. In its affidavit to the SC, the association has stated about the allegations that "It is totally false and baseless and the same is vehemently/specifically denied."
The association also stated in its affidavit that state government backed efforts were being made to create a Kashmir like situation in Jammu to effect a demographic change in the region. It has claimed that the government is settling illegal Rohingya immigrants near sensitive locations like army camps, railway stations, airport and other places of strategic importance.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
