Doodhipora Inquiry Commission gets two-month extension

Srinagar, Dec 11 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir government has given an extension of two months to the Inquiry Commission probing a firing incident at Doodhipora in Handwara area of Kupwara district on February 22 this year in which four teenaged boys were allegedly killed by the Army, an official spokesman said today.

The term of the Commission, headed by District and Sessions Judge Syed Tariq Ahmed Naqshbandi, had expired on November 22, he added.

''In partial modification of a government order of September 22, sanction is accorded to the grant of extension of time to inquiry into the Doodhipora firing incident by two months from the date of its expiry on November 22,'' a Law Department notification said.

On September 22, the Jammu and Kashmir government ordered an inquiry into the killing of four teenaged boys by the Army at Doodhipora. It appointed Mr Naqashbandi as the inquiry officer to probe the causes and circumstances that led to the firing by troops who mistook the four boys as militants and killed them.

The incident had sparked off massive protests and violence in the entire Kashmir valley. The Army later admitted and regretted the incident and also offered compensation to families of the victims.

The state government had asked Mr Naqshbandi to submit his report within two months. Besides identifying the people, if any, whose negligence caused the incident, the inquiry officer was told to fix responsibility for use of excessive force which resulted in the death of four boys.

Mr Naqshbandi was also asked to recommend the necessary action against those found negligent or guilty and suggest measures to avoid recurrence of such incidents.

UNI AG RL ND1940