Pathribal case closure travesty of justice: CPI(M)

CPI(M) today termed as "travesty" and "miscarriage" of justice the closure of the Pathribal case by an army court and demanded speedy judicial trial in the sensitive case.
The party noted that CBI had probed the matter and chargesheeted five army officers for abduction and murder of five civilians in Kashmir in 2000.
The decision of the army Court of Inquiry to close the Pathribal killing case is a "travesty of justice", CPI(M) said in a statement.
It said the case was taken up by the army court as a result of a Supreme Court decision, which has now led to the exoneration of army officers that has amounted to "miscarriage of justice".

"Exoneration of the army officers is also a glaring instance of how the army operates with impunity under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act," the CPI(M) Politburo said.
It said the people of Kashmir would draw "the obvious conclusion that they are subject to double standards as far as justice is concerned" and demanded that the crime against innocent civilians in Pathribal should not go unpunished.
"Steps should be taken immediately to get the case reverted to the judicial system and a speedy trial be conducted," the CPI(M) said.