Srinagar, Aug 21 (UNI) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested six Jammu and Kashmir Police officials, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, in connection with the alleged custodial torture of constable Khursheed Ahmad Chohan in Kupwara in 2023, officials said.
Those arrested include DSP Aijaz Ahmad Naiko, Sub-Inspector Riyaz Ahmad, and four others—Jahangir Ahmad, Imtiyaz Ahmad, Mohammed Younis, and Shakir Ahmad—who were all posted at the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) in Kupwara. The arrests were made yesterday.
The action comes nearly four weeks after the CBI registered an FIR on the directions of the Supreme Court. The FIR against them invokes charges of criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder, voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means, and wrongful confinement for more than three days.
“All six police officials were arrested by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the CBI,” a senior official said. ” The six were called this morning and were formally arrested. They have been lodged in a police station in Srinagar district.”
The SIT is headed by CBI Superintendent of Police Subhash Chander Kundu.
In its directive, the Supreme Court in July 21, had handed over the investigation of the case to CBI and ordered it to ensure that police personnel found responsible for the custodial torture of Khursheed are arrested “forthwith and not later than a period of one month” from July 22. Furthermore, the apex court had set a deadline of 90 days for the CBI to complete the investigation from the date of FIR registration.
Constable Khursheed Chohan, who was then posted at District Police Headquarters, Baramulla, was summoned by police to report at the SSP Kupwara’s office on February 20, 2023, regarding an inquiry into a narcotics case. However, Chohan was allegedly detained without legal sanction and subjected to brutal custodial torture for six consecutive days.
Due to the severity of his injuries, Chohan was admitted to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura-Srinagar, on February 26, 2023.
Chohan had earlier approached J&K High Court seeking registration of FIR, but his plea dismissed, prompting him to move apex court.
The CBI FIR also references a harrowing complaint filed by Chohan’s wife, detailing the torture inflicted on her husband. She alleged that the police officials beat him continuously for six days using iron rods and wooden sticks, inflicted electric shocks, and committed barbaric acts of sexual torture, including mutilation of his private parts and inserting iron rods into his rectum. The complaint further alleges that red chili powder was forcibly applied to his wounds and that despite being aware of the ongoing torture, SSP Kupwara acted as a silent spectator.
