Expressing its concern, a Srinagar-based rights groups on Monday termed the Supreme Court relief to Major Aditya Kumar, facing an FIR in the Shopian firing, as “irregular and against the established norms of criminal procedure”. “The Supreme Court through its past judgment restricted the powers of the lower judiciary, even the powers of the police are curtailed,” he said. Jehad council reactsA spokesman of the United Jihad Council (UJC), a conglomerate of militant outfits active in J&K, also described the court direction as “halting the action against Army Major”. “The SC directions over the Shopian killings are unjustified, Halting the investigations indicate the judiciary was also taking sides,” alleged UJC chief Syed Salah-ud-din. The Army said it fired in self-defence when the stone-throwing protesters attacked them.

Source: The Hindu February 12, 2018 16:41 UTC