SRINAGAR: In the 2009 Shopian case involving Asiya Jan and her sister-in-law Neelofar, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has removed two doctors who were accused of falsifying the post-mortem report of the victims. The investigation revealed that the top officials of the government were aware of the facts but chose to ignore them. The doctors, Dr. Nighat Shaheen Chilloo and Dr. Bilal Ahmad Dalal, were found to be involved in a conspiracy to create unrest in the region by falsely accusing security forces of rape and murder.
The aim of the doctors was to generate disaffection against the Indian state and create protests and strikes in the Kashmir valley. Their actions led to widespread unrest and law and order incidents, resulting in loss of life, injuries, and significant economic losses. The bodies of Asiya Jan and Neelofar were found in a river after they accidentally drowned, but the doctors conspired to falsify the post-mortem reports and create a false narrative.
The CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) conducted an investigation and exposed the conspiracy, revealing that the victims were not raped and murdered but died due to drowning. However, the local CBI counsel faced threats from terrorist outfits, which hindered the pursuit of justice. The false narrative created by the doctors and others led to media stories vilifying the Indian state and enticing many youngsters to join terrorism.
The CBI charge sheet filed in December 2009 provided evidence of the doctors' involvement in forging evidence. The local Bar Association, led by Mian Qayoom, mobilized resources in support of the false narrative and even called for Pakistan to take the issue to the International Court of Justice. The CBI's findings helped counter the false narrative and quell street violence.
However, the framing of charges by the trial court was delayed due to petitions filed in the high court by accused advocates seeking to quash the charge sheet. The absence of the CBI's local counsel in the high court for an extended period allowed an adverse order to be passed, which had serious national security implications.
The Shopian case highlights the subversion of justice by certain individuals who acted on behalf of Pakistan and terrorist outfits. The involvement of doctors, lawyers, and others in falsifying evidence and obstructing the investigation further complicated the pursuit of justice. The case had a significant impact on the region, causing unrest and creating a false narrative that harmed the reputation of security forces and the Indian state.
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