Engage counsel by March 24 : Court tells fake encounter accused

Srinagar, Mar 17 (UNI) A local court today fixed March 24 as the next date of hearing in the Kashmir fake encounter killing case after directing the accused police officials to engage their counsels within a week.

The Principal and Sessions judge, Srinagar, directed the accused police officials, including Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hans Raj Parihar, to engage counsels for their defence, when they were presented in the court today.

''The normal hearing in the case will start after one week whether you engage counsels for your defence or not'', judge Mohammad Yaqub Mir said.

No argument on the bail applications of the accused was done today.

The trial of the accused will start from next date of hearing, the judge said.

Besides Parihar, other accused including Deputy Superintendent of Police Bahadur Ram, ASI Gudoo, selection grade constable (driver) Farooq Ahmad Padder, Bansi Lal, Zaheer Khan and Manzoor Ahmad were present in the court.

A counsel, defending two of the accused, objected when Deputy Director Vigilance Kathwari started arguing on behalf of the state.

The defence counsel said Mr Kathwari cannot plead the case as Chief Public Prosecutor since he was working with the vigilance department.

However, Mr Kathwari said that he was first an advocate and then the Deputy Director, Vigilance. ''I have been a Public Prosecutor and have every right to plead the case,'' he said.

The judge said it will be decided when all the accused engage defence counsels on the next date of hearing.

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