Indian Kashmir orders probe into killing of villager
Source: Reuters
JAMMU, India, Jan 31 (Reuters) - The chief minister of Indian Kashmir ordered a judicial probe on Wednesday into the killing of a father of five, who police said was a militant they shot dead in a gunbattle. The killing of 35-year-old Abdul Rehman Padder sparked unrest in his native village, where hundreds of people have protested and demanded action against the police. Two policemen have been arrested in connection with the death of Padder, who went missing on Dec. 8 and was reported killed by police last weekend. "I respect the sentiments of the members on both sides of this house and do order a judicial probe into this particular case and other incidents related to it," Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told the state's legislative assembly in Jammu, Kashmir's winter capital. He said the probe would be conducted by a high court judge. Inspector General of Police S.M. Sahai told reporters police was also probing four other disappearances. An independent group representing the parents of missing people in Kashmir says that, since a separatist revolt broke out against Indian rule in Kashmir in 1989, 8,000-10,000 people have disappeared after being arrested by security forces. Authorities deny the allegations and say their investigations have revealed most of the missing people have crossed the heavily militarised Line of Control, which separates Indian and Pakistani zones of the disputed region, for arms training. Officials say more than 40,000 people have been killed since the separatist uprising began. Human rights groups put the toll at around 60,000 dead or missing.
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