Published: August 28, 2009

Shopian Perpetrators To Be Punished: Kashmir CM

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Srinagar, Aug 28: The pro-India chief minister of Kashmir, Omar Abdullah Friday reiterated his strong determination to unearth the facts of Shopian twin rape and murder case and assured severe punishment to the culprits.

Two women, Asiya (17) and Neelofar (22), were raped and killed allegedly by men in uniform during the night of May 29/30.

"Nobody involved in covering or perpetuating to cover up the heinous crime will be tolerated. There is no let up in the strong will of government to punish the culprits of the Shopian crime," the chief minister said while interacting with Independent Womens Initiative Group (IWIG) comprising Dr. Oma Chaturvadi, Dr. Geeta, Seema Mishra, Dr Usha, Ravindra Grover and Anuradha Bhasin on Friday.

The Chief Minister said he will direct the STI to work round the clock and make the investigation more pro-active until the case is taken up by the CBI. There should be no let up in the investigation at any point in time, he said.

Omar said that he has made it clear a number of times that government is highly concerned about giving justice to the victims of the Shopian crime and bring the culprits before the law. "At no point in time the government has shown any laxity in carrying forward its determination to uncover the truth and punish those behind the crime," he asserted.

Omar assured the Group that whatever more is required to put the investigation on the fast track, the government would do so.

The Group shared their analysis and inputs they have collected by visiting Shopian and talking with a cross section of the people with the Chief Minister.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.