Srinagar, April 25 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, the High Court has suspended the proceedings in the most infamous case of custodial killing involving five Indian Army personnel, including a Colonel, and an equal number of policemen.

The army had challenged the jurisdiction of Kashmir police in charge-sheeting its five personnel. The decision came a week after the court of principal district and session judge, Hasnain Masoodi directed the army to furnish whereabouts of its personnel, held guilty by the Special investigation team of police of murdering Moulvi Showkat Kataria, a resident of Banihal in Ramban district near Ganderbal 18 months ago.

The team led by the then Deputy Inspector General, Farooq Ahmad had charge sheeted five army men along with five police personnel, including then Superintendent of Police, Ganderbal, Hansraj Parihar in the staged killing of Moulvi Showkat Kataria. He was picked up by the personnel of Indian Army from a mosque in Alamgari Bazaar of Srinagar, where he used to lead prayers and murdered in a fake encounter. The trial court had issued non-bailable warrants against the army personnel.

Army’s counsel Anil Bhan told the court of Justice Sunil Hali, “Police needed to seek permission from the Home ministry under Section 7 of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) before proceeding against the army.”  After hearing the arguments and perusal of records, Justice Hali suspended the proceedings of the trial court for three months.