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Kashmir police on killing charges | Kashmir police on killing charges |
(about 18 hours later) | |
Seven policeman in Indian-administered Kashmir have been charged with murdering a man and trying to cover it up by saying he was a militant. | Seven policeman in Indian-administered Kashmir have been charged with murdering a man and trying to cover it up by saying he was a militant. |
They are charged with murdering a civilian and criminal conspiracy. | They are charged with murdering a civilian and criminal conspiracy. |
Correspondents say the charges in Srinagar are highly unusual, and are the first to be brought in a series of alleged killings in faked gun battles. | Correspondents say the charges in Srinagar are highly unusual, and are the first to be brought in a series of alleged killings in faked gun battles. |
Human rights groups say thousands of people have disappeared during 18 years of insurgency against Indian rule. | Human rights groups say thousands of people have disappeared during 18 years of insurgency against Indian rule. |
Cold blood | Cold blood |
"The accused have been charged with criminal conspiracy, abduction, murder and destruction of evidence," said Farooq Ahmed, the senior police officer heading the investigation into the killings. | "The accused have been charged with criminal conspiracy, abduction, murder and destruction of evidence," said Farooq Ahmed, the senior police officer heading the investigation into the killings. |
The accused arrived at the court by bus | The accused arrived at the court by bus |
The victim was Abdul Rehman Paddar, a 35-year-old carpenter, who was shot dead in cold blood in December. | The victim was Abdul Rehman Paddar, a 35-year-old carpenter, who was shot dead in cold blood in December. |
It is alleged the officers - including a senior superintendent of police and a deputy superintendent of police - picked up Mr Paddar in Srinagar then staged a gun battle, or so-called "fake encounter". | It is alleged the officers - including a senior superintendent of police and a deputy superintendent of police - picked up Mr Paddar in Srinagar then staged a gun battle, or so-called "fake encounter". |
The officers are suspected of falsely claiming that the man they had killed was a Pakistani militant, which made them eligible to receive handsome cash rewards from the government. | The officers are suspected of falsely claiming that the man they had killed was a Pakistani militant, which made them eligible to receive handsome cash rewards from the government. |
It is the first time since the Kashmir insurgency began 18 years ago that such senior officials have faced such serious charges. | It is the first time since the Kashmir insurgency began 18 years ago that such senior officials have faced such serious charges. |
The crime was only uncovered after the body was exhumed four weeks ago and DNA tests identified it to be that of Mr Paddar. | The crime was only uncovered after the body was exhumed four weeks ago and DNA tests identified it to be that of Mr Paddar. |
Rare prosecutions | Rare prosecutions |
"The killers of my husband should be hanged," Mr Paddar's wife, Muneera, said after hearing the seven accused would be charged with a capital offence. | "The killers of my husband should be hanged," Mr Paddar's wife, Muneera, said after hearing the seven accused would be charged with a capital offence. |
She was speaking from the Srinagar court where the charges were announced. | She was speaking from the Srinagar court where the charges were announced. |
There have been frequent protests against 'fake encounters' | There have been frequent protests against 'fake encounters' |
Investigators are looking into four other similar cases of civilian disappearances, and the Indian army is conducting its own inquiries because of allegations soldiers were also involved in the killings. | Investigators are looking into four other similar cases of civilian disappearances, and the Indian army is conducting its own inquiries because of allegations soldiers were also involved in the killings. |
The BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Delhi says that in almost two decades of conflict in Kashmir several thousand civilians have vanished. | |
Our correspondent says that many disappeared after being arrested by security forces, but prosecutions are extremely rare. | Our correspondent says that many disappeared after being arrested by security forces, but prosecutions are extremely rare. |
Families of thousands of people who have disappeared in Kashmir during the insurgency have long demanded that their cases be investigated so that missing people can formally be declared dead. | Families of thousands of people who have disappeared in Kashmir during the insurgency have long demanded that their cases be investigated so that missing people can formally be declared dead. |
Last month, five bodies, including that of Mr Paddar, were exhumed in connection with investigations into charges of staged gun battles. | Last month, five bodies, including that of Mr Paddar, were exhumed in connection with investigations into charges of staged gun battles. |
The killings triggered violent protests across Kashmir. | The killings triggered violent protests across Kashmir. |
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