Stern action against cops involved in custodial killings: CM

The government has ordered magisterial inquiry in custodial killing of Nazir Ahmed Mughal of border district of Kupwara, Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed informed Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
“The inquiry is in process and statements of the witnesses and doctors, who conducted the autopsy, have been recorded,” Mufti said in written response to a query by MLA Kupwara, Bashir Ahmed Dar, who had sought information about present status of the inquiry ordered into the killing. He had also sought details of the FIR, if any, lodged.
FIR under 364, 302, 342, 120-B, 109, 223, 224 RPC have been registered in the Kupwara police station.
The chief minister said stringent action will be taken against the police personnel found responsible for the incident.
“Directions have also been issued to all police formations to follow the statutory rules and guidelines of the Apex Court of India on custody management so that there is no scope for aberration at the hands of the law enforcing agencies,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a written reply to query of MLA Langate Er Abdul Rashid, Minister-in-charge Home and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed informed the House that 4111 Village Defense Committees (VDC) were functional in Jammu province.
“197 cases have been registered against the VDC members. Of these cases, three have been closed as non-admitted, two cases as un-traced, two under investigation while 190 have been fined,” he said
The higher number of 68 cases were registered against VDC members in Doda.