Mirwaiz demands international probe in Shopian case

Rejecting the Central Bureau of Investigation's report, the moderate Hurriyat Conference on Friday demanded an international probe into the alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian.

"We demand an international probe into the Shopian double rape and murder case to unveil the truth and the government of India should have no objection if the CBI report was based on facts," Mirwaiz Umer Farooq told a Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar today.

Preferably, he said, the probe should be conducted by international bodies like Asia Watch and United Nations.

Rejecting the CBI report submitted to the Jammu and Kashmir high court on Monday, Mirwaiz said it was a 'fraud' played by the investigating agency with the people of Kashmir.

"It (the report) is surprising as the men in uniform involved in the case were given a clean chit to safeguard the so-called national interest," Mirwaiz said.

The CBI report had stated that the women had not been raped or murdered, but had drowned in the village stream.

Meanwhile, the high court bar association today denounced the CBI report and demanded an international probe into the incident.

"We are approaching the international court of justice in this case," president Mian Abdul Qayoom told reporters.

He said the Bar has decided to defend the lawyers, doctors and others implicated in the case. Qayoom also said the state high court had not granted permission to the state government to hand over the case to the CBI.

He said a strike call has been given throughout the state on December 23 to express solidarity with those implicated in the case.