Justice Sought: The CBI's Charges Against J&K Police over Custodial Torture

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken significant legal steps by filing a charge sheet concerning a grave custodial torture case in Jammu and Kashmir. Deputy Superintendent of Police Aijaz Ahmad Naiko and several other officers face allegations of brutally torturing fellow police constable Khursheed Ahmad Chohan.

The incident, which dates back two years, involved Chohan being held for six days at the Kupwara Joint Interrogation Centre, where he reportedly suffered severe physical abuse, including beatings and electric shocks. Despite allegations of mutilation, sufficient evidence to substantiate these claims was not found during the investigation.

The case was escalated to the Supreme Court after Chohan's plea for a CBI probe was initially rejected by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. The apex court criticized the lower court for its failure to uphold constitutional obligations, emphasizing the necessity of protecting citizens' fundamental rights against misuse of power.