This Article is From Jul 11, 2009

Shopian case: Five officials suspended

New Delhi:

The Jammu and Kashmir government has suspended five officials, including the former SP of Shopian in an alleged rape and murder case after the judicial commission probe indicted them for lapses and loss of evidence.

Departmental action will also be taken against the doctors who conducted the post-mortem.

The commission that has submitted its report to state government had recommended that several officials be suspended for their mishandling of the investigation. The report also said that FIRs should also be lodged against the officials.

The police and administration have been accused of misinforming the chief minister into initially saying the women had drowned.

Earlier, the government appointed an IG(CID) to probe lapses on part of the administration in the Shopian case.

On June 12, on a visit to the Valley against the backdrop of agitations over the alleged rape and murder, Home Minister P Chidambaram had promised action against the guilty.

He had said that the state government briefed him about the Shopian incident and it had been its intention to hold a thorough inquiry and punish anyone found guilty.

"There will be proper action, proper follow up. If anyone is found guilty, he or she will be punished." he had said.

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