Mehbooba Mufti Urges Reform in J&K Police and Joint Interrogation Centres

Rapid Summary

• Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has called for systemic reform and scrutiny of all Joint Interrogation Centres (JICs) of the Jammu & kashmir Police.
• The Supreme Court ordered a CBI investigation, arrests, and ₹50 lakh compensation to constable Khursheed Ahmad Chouhan, a victim of custodial torture by local police in Kupwara.
• Chouhan was arrested on February 20, 2023, and subjected to six days of severe abuse including genital mutilation, electric shocks leading to fractured bones, injuries caused by pepper being sprinkled on private parts, and other brutal acts.
• Medical evidence confirmed grave torture; the victim was hospitalized in a comatose state.
• The court observed “institutional apathy,” quashed fabricated charges against Chouhan under Section 309 IPC meant to create false narratives around the case.
• Compensation is recoverable directly from responsible officers after departmental proceedings post-CBI investigation are concluded.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The Supreme Court’s decision underscores accountability mechanisms within law enforcement institutions while shedding light on persistent issues regarding human rights abuse in custodial settings. Mehbooba Mufti’s call for scrutiny of JICs highlights concerns about systemic flaws that extend beyond isolated incidents in Jammu & Kashmir. Reform measures at structural levels may be necessary to rebuild public trust in policing systems which are vital for maintaining democratic governance.

The emphasis placed by the court on medical records as evidence shows how critical documentation is for exposing custodial violence while institutional failures-such as non-investigation despite medical proof-signal gaps needing urgent corrective action. This case could catalyze broader discussions about oversight across interrogation facilities nationwide if taken up by policymakers seriously.

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