Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the government and an Army major posted in the 27 RR at ‘Trehmukh Top post’ in a petition filed by Manzoor Ahmad Khan through his brother Mohammad Aslam Khan.

Manzoor, who was taken into custody by 27 RR camp on May 31, 2017 has not been released. Police station Lalpora had filed a case under FIR No 63/2017 in this regard under section 364, 343 RPC.

Manzoor was represented by his counsel Adv Nasir Qadri. The case has been listed for November 7.

Manzoor Ahmad, a labourer in his early twenties, disappeared from an army camp at ‘Trehmokh Top’ in the remote Lolab area of Kupwara district in north Kashmir. Manzoor and another local, Nasrullah Khan, were detained for ‘questioning’ while they were on their way to ‘Trehmokh Top’ from their village, Kakar Devar Patti.

Following the arrest of the duo, locals staged protests on August 31 at the tri-junction mountain pasture connecting Bandipora, Baramulla and Kupwara. The protestors accused the army of arresting the two men. Manzoor, is also a close relative of J&K law minister and senior PDP leader Abdul Haq Khan.

The army camp is situated near the Top where people from surrounding villages live during summer in small wood and mud structures called dokhas. The villagers have to pass through the camp and sign in to enter it, producing their identity cards before moving towards the Top or returning to the villages.

Notably, one among the arrested youth, Nasrullah Khan was found near the dokhas by the evening of 31 August. He was in a critical condition due to severe torture, villagers said. Locals also said the army assured them that “both will be released”.

Nasrullah Khan was taken to the local health centre from where doctors referred him to SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, in critical condition. Later he was shifted to SKIMS, Soura, for specialized treatment as Khan, according to the reports was facing damaged kidneys due to the alleged torture.

Guest