Kathua, Aug 11, KNT: The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Kathua, Ajay Kumar, on Monday granted a final opportunity to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kathua to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) in connection with a complaint filed by two Punjab labourers alleging custodial torture and illegal detention by police officials in Basohli.
The application, filed under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 by Sukar Deen and Farid Mohammad of Chibber village, Pathankot, seeks registration of an FIR against police officers, including the SDPO Basohli, for allegedly inflicting third-degree torture on them at Atal Setu and later at Police Station Basohli on June 29, 2025. They also alleged their detention violated Supreme Court guidelines laid down in the D.K. Basu and Arnesh Kumar cases.
During the hearing, APP Ankush Gupta, representing the SSP, sought more time to file the ATR, stating that a preliminary enquiry had been entrusted to Inspector Sajjad Mughal of District Police Lines, Kathua. He requested a short adjournment to place both the enquiry report and the ATR before the court.
However, advocates S.S. Ahmed and Vishal Gupta, representing the complainants, accused the police of adopting dilatory tactics to derail the matter. They argued that the case disclosed cognizable offences warranting immediate FIR registration as per the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Lalita Kumari case.
Advocate Ahmed further alleged that the complainants and their contractor, Aftab, were being continuously harassed and pressured to withdraw the case, with threats of false implication in other cases. He urged the court to ensure the safety and dignity of the labourers.
The APP assured the court that he would convey the concerns to the SSP to prevent any harassment of the complainants.
After hearing both sides, the CJM granted the SSP a last opportunity to file the ATR by or before the next hearing scheduled for August 18, 2025. [KNT]
