Srinagar, Jan 28: The State Human Rights Commission Monday said it would decide the 1994-Kupwara massacre in which 27 people were killed and 36 injured in indiscriminate firing allegedly by Army on next hearing in March.
 The rights panel had sought detailed report about the incident from the J&K police and Union Home Ministry on a petition seeking re-investigation into the case. It came up for hearing today.
 A report by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) received by the Commission separately from the J&K police and the Union Ministry has indicted troopers of 31 Med Regiment for killing civilians "without any provocation".
 “Troops deployed on duty in Kupwara town under the command of Second Lieutenant S Bakshi indiscriminately fired in Bus Stand, Kupwara, without any provocation and justification, with criminal intention," said the CID report.  However, the report said only 18 bodies were recovered.
 “Several correspondence were made with the concerned unit to provide nominal roll of officers/jawans deputed for ROP duty on January 27, 1994 but despite repeated requests no response was made by the concerned unit …finally the investigation of the case was closed as untraced on  April 10, 1997, on the basis of non-cooperation of army authorities,” the report said. 
 The case was reopened in 2004 but the investigating agency again rued the non-cooperation from the Army.
 Later the International Forum for Justice through its Chairman Muhammad Ahsaan Untoo and Human Rights Forum J&K approached the SHRC seeking reinvestigation into the case.
 On the SHRC directions the Home Ministry had send reminder to the Union Defence Ministry twice last year to submit complete report on the incident.
 The Home Ministry had sought extension from the J&K right panel for furnishing of the required details.
 Member SHRC Javeed Kawoosa said the Commission has received the report sought from the Director General of Police (J&K) and Union home ministry. “The case has been listed for final  hearing on March 11,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST