<div><font color="Navy">The trail will now run cold
Suhas Chakma recalls how Major Avtar Singh avoided the trial court and fled India
THE SUICIDE of Major Avtar Singh in Salema, California on 9 June has exposed the killing of defenders of human rights with impunity. Major Avtar Singh killed himself along with his wife and one child at his California home while his 15-year-old son is battling for life after being shot in the head.
The tragic killing of the family members of Major Avtar Singh is a classic case with the dogs of wars in India. At the height of the internal conflicts in 1990s, the government of India had let loose its dogs of war who eliminated many prominent human rights activists. Jaleel Andrabi of Jammu and Kashmir, Parag Kumar Das of Assam and Jaswant Singh Kalra of Punjab were amongst the prominent activists murdered during the period. Only with respect to the disappearance and murder of Jaswant Singh Kalra was accountability established. The killers of Parag Kumar Das were let off.
With the suicide of Major Avtar Singh, the truth behind the murder of Andrabi will not be unravelled. Though Avtar Singh did not act alone, it is unlikely that other culprits will be brought to justice. The question must be asked as to whether prosecution of the Kalra killers was allowed as insurgency had ended in Punjab.
I still recall meeting Andrabi in Delhi prior to his kidnapping on 8 March 1996 and subsequent murder. Andrabi came to Delhi following an abortive attempt to kidnap him allegedly by the BSF personnel. Andrabi was advised by senior human rights activists not to return to the valley, but he returned to meet his family members for Eid. His body was recovered from the Jhelum river on 27 March, 19 days after the abduction, with his eyes gouged out.
Andrabi was a prominent member of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, and his murder could not be swept aside by the state government under the carpet like the other cases. An investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was ordered, and the SIT in its report submitted to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Budgam on 10 April 1997 held Major Avtar Singh of the Rashtriya Rifles responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Andrabi.
Once Andrabi was charged, the Army made a request to the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Budgam, to send the case to Army authorities for court martial trial. The court conceded but Andrabi
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Suhas Chakma recalls how Major Avtar Singh avoided the trial court and fled India
THE SUICIDE of Major Avtar Singh in Salema, California on 9 June has exposed the killing of defenders of human rights with impunity. Major Avtar Singh killed himself along with his wife and one child at his California home while his 15-year-old son is battling for life after being shot in the head.
The tragic killing of the family members of Major Avtar Singh is a classic case with the dogs of wars in India. At the height of the internal conflicts in 1990s, the government of India had let loose its dogs of war who eliminated many prominent human rights activists. Jaleel Andrabi of Jammu and Kashmir, Parag Kumar Das of Assam and Jaswant Singh Kalra of Punjab were amongst the prominent activists murdered during the period. Only with respect to the disappearance and murder of Jaswant Singh Kalra was accountability established. The killers of Parag Kumar Das were let off.
With the suicide of Major Avtar Singh, the truth behind the murder of Andrabi will not be unravelled. Though Avtar Singh did not act alone, it is unlikely that other culprits will be brought to justice. The question must be asked as to whether prosecution of the Kalra killers was allowed as insurgency had ended in Punjab.
I still recall meeting Andrabi in Delhi prior to his kidnapping on 8 March 1996 and subsequent murder. Andrabi came to Delhi following an abortive attempt to kidnap him allegedly by the BSF personnel. Andrabi was advised by senior human rights activists not to return to the valley, but he returned to meet his family members for Eid. His body was recovered from the Jhelum river on 27 March, 19 days after the abduction, with his eyes gouged out.
Andrabi was a prominent member of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, and his murder could not be swept aside by the state government under the carpet like the other cases. An investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was ordered, and the SIT in its report submitted to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Budgam on 10 April 1997 held Major Avtar Singh of the Rashtriya Rifles responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Andrabi.
Once Andrabi was charged, the Army made a request to the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Budgam, to send the case to Army authorities for court martial trial. The court conceded but Andrabi
More...