Srinagar, Sep 25: Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar on Friday constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team headed by SP Hazratbal Sudan Shiuverma to investigate killing of advocate Babar Qadri.
The young lawyer and TV panelist was killed at his residence at Hawal Srinagar on Thursday evening. A case FIR (62/2020) under section 307, 302 IPC, 18 and 18 UA(P) Act 2/27 Arms Act has been registered at police station Lal Bazar.
Besides SP Hazratbal as head, the SIT comprises of SDPO Zadibal Ananyat Ali Choudhary (IPS), DySP PC Srinagar Sahil Mahajan, SHO Lal Bazar Inspector Rayees Hussain and Head Constable Tariq Ahmad of Police station Lal Bazar.
Besides them, Senior Prosecuting Officer Srinagar Zai-ul-Rehman shall be part of the SIT for providing “all requisite legal guidance as and when required,” reads the order by the IGP, a copy of which lies with GNS.
The IGP has asked the SIT to carry the investigation of the case “professionally” and submit progress report to him on daily basis. “SSP Srinagar shall supervise the investigation by the team for the logical conclusion of the investigation.”
Earlier addressing a presser here, the top police officer of Kashmir said that the SIT has been asked to “immediately identify the militants and their group affiliation for their arrest or encounter.”
“Babar Qadri was sitting at home. Two persons claiming to be clients and wanting advice on some accidental matter visited him at his home at 6:20. They were having masks and carrying files in the hands,” IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar told reporters at presser here. “The militants fired four bullets on his head. He was taken to hospital but died on the way. Before fleeing, the militants fire few rounds in air and are seen in a footage of CCTV camera installed in the lane.”
The IGP said he along with other police officials himself visited scene of crime and held a meeting of SSP, SPs and SHOs.
“We have constituted a special investigation team headed by SP Hazratbal and its members include SDPO, DySP Cargo, an SHO and a legal expert,” he said as per GNS correspondent, adding, “The SIT has been directed to solve the case immediately. Identity militants and their outfit and we will try to arrest them. If not arrest, we will try to carry out their encounter.”
Responding to question whether or not the young lawyer was a protected person, the IGP said: “No. He was not a protected person but in 2012 his vehicle was fired upon. SHO and DySP personally told him not to reside in Hawal. Today I talked to SHO Lal Bazar and SHO Zadibal they said they had requested him from last one week not to reside in Hawal being a very congested area. He (Babar) said he won’t leave his Home”.
Kumar said any person whether protected or not should contact nearest SHO in case of receiving any threat to person.
Regarding suspending of two policemen in connection with alleged custodial killing of a youth from Sopore, the IGP said: “When he (youth) was being taken for recovery, he escaped from the hands of these two policemen.” (GNS)
