PRESS RELEASE
HCBA/PR/09-92 DATED:21-11-2009

Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association in its extra ordinary executive committee meeting held today under the chairmanship of Mian Abdul Qayoom, strongly condemned the manner and method of CBI sleuths in harassing and humiliating the members of Shopian Bar Association who are being repeatedly called to CBI Camp Humhama for questioning for their role in highlighting the incident of rape and murder of two women of Shopian namely Nelofar and Asiya who were raped and then killed during the intervening night of 29/30 of May 2009.

Taking strong exception in calling four members of the Shopian Bar namely Abdul Majid Mir President, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat Ex-President, Sheikh Mubarik, Public Prosecutor and Mushtaq Ahmad Gattoo Ex-Public Prosecutor to the CBI Camp Humhama on 18.11.2009 and then interrogating them over there from 10:00 A.M. to 10:30 P.M. and then letting them to go on the condition that as and when they are called by the CBI authorities they should attend the Humhama camp again, the Bar Executive described the said act of the CBI authorities as their highhandedness and misuse of official power and authority. The Bar Executive was also shocked on coming to know that three more members of the Shopian Bar namely Syed Aijaz Hussain, Mushtaq Ahmad and Sheikh Mansoor have been called to the CBI Humhama Camp today and they are being questioned by the CBI authorities without any justification, cause and reason. It was also shocking to know that the members of the Shopian Bar are being repeatedly told by the CBI authorities as to why they have rejected the CBI probe in the matter and as to on whose instance they have done so. The Bar Executive, after taking stock of the situation have come to the conclusion that it is only, in order to hush up the case, that the CBI authorities are harassing and humiliating the members of the Shopian Bar so that they don’t raise their voice against the failure of the CBI in arresting and prosecuting the culprits who have committed the gruesome crime.

The J&K High Court Bar Association in today’s meeting has decided to take all necessary measures to protect the life and liberty of their brethren of Shopian Bar and also to file appropriate proceeding before the Hon’ble High Court agasint the misuse of power and authority by the CBI authorities. It was also decided that all kind of legal help will be provided to the members of the Shopian Bar in assailing the order passed by the Sessions Judge Shopian in permitting the CBI to get the statements of the two important witnesses of the crime re-recorded u/s 164-A Cr. P. C. when the said witnesses had already got their statements recorded under the said section before the CJM Shopian when the matter was being investigated by the Special Investigating Team appointed by the Hon’ble High Court interms of its order dated 04.07.2009.

Mian Abdul Qayoom,
President,
J&K High Court,
Bar Association.
Dated : 21.11.2009