Shopian case: Bail applications of police officers to be heard

Srinagar, Jul 26 (PTI) The bail applications of Jammu and
Kashmir police officers Javed Iqbal Mattoo and Rohit Baskotra,
arrested in connection with the sensational Shopian murder
case, will come up for hearing on Monday at a court in
Shopian.

The pleas of the two officers were moved on Saturday
before the Sessions Court by senior Supreme Court lawyer Asim
Mehrotra who flew into Srinagar to argue the case on behalf of
Mattoo and Baskotra.

The Public Prosecutor had sought three days time to reply
to the bail pleas. However, it was countered by Mehrotra
saying that the state had "illegally" arrested his clients and
that too without any evidence.

Mehrotra also cited the apex court's direction for the
expeditious hearing of the bail pleas in the Shopian case
relating to the rape and murder of two women.

The Supreme Court on Friday had taken exception to the
Jammu and Kashmir High Court's order to arrest four police
officers, including Mattoo and Baskotra, in the case and
overturned some key directions of the court in this regard.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and
Justice P Sathasivam asked searching questions about the High
Court's order of July 15 directing the arrest of the officers
and subjecting them to naraco-analysis tests and DNA
profiling.

The Kashmir Bar Association had earlier announced that
none of its members would represent any of the accused in the
courts for securing bail, a decision which was withdrawn by
its President Miya Kayoom in Supreme Court where he assured
full cooperation.

Mehrotra has been provided with Z-category protection on
the basis of assessment of security agencies which feel that
he could be harmed by certain international elements.

In its ruling, the apex court had left little doubt about
its unhappiness about the arrest orders issued by the Jammu
and Kashmir High Court and observed, "What material was
available before the High Court to direct the arrest of these
officers. There should have been proper investigation."

The case arose after two young women Asiya and her
sister-in-law Neelofar were found murdered near a stream on
May 30, triggering massive public protests. PTI SKL
SDE