J&K HC to hear bail application in Shopian case today

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court will resume hearing on the bail application of two police officers in Shopian double rape and murder case today.

The case came up for hearing before the single bench of Justice Sunil Hali on August 28.

However, after hearing the arguments from both sides, Justice Hali listed the case for Monday for further arguments.

The counsel for the accused Aseem Mehrotra pleaded that since there was no material evidence against both police officers, they should be released on bail.

He informed the court that there was no evidence which suggest their direct or indirect involvement in the crime.

However, counsel for the state opposed the bail and said that despite violence marks on the bodies of two women -- Neelofar and Asiya -- the police officers failed to register an FIR. An FIR was registered after a delay of six days during which period vital evidence in the case had been destroyed.

One-man commission of inquiry headed by Justice (retd) Muzaffar Jan, appointed to probe the rape and murder, in his report has said that involvement of a state police agency could not be ruled out completely.

Later, Matoo and Rohit were arrested alongwith two other police officers on the direction of the High Court.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is now probing the case.

The SIT had announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for any one who would provide any clue leading to arrest of the culprits.