Disclosing witnesses in advance a security concern, say police

PATHANKOT : The J&K crime branch submitted a reply before the district and sessions judge in Pathankot, where the Kathua rape and murder case trial is being held, on Tuesday.

They told court that disclosing names of witnesses in advance will pose a security threat. The crime branch was asked to submit a reply after accused’s lawyers had filed plea before court, requesting that they should be informed about the prosecution’s witnesses in advance.

An application was moved against former BJP minister Chaudhary Lal Singh citing ‘his role in defending the accused’.

Special public prosecutor JK Chopra told the court that Chaudhary had reportedly floated an organisation ‘Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan’ on July 22. “The purpose of this organisation, among others, is to formulate ways to defend the accused and discredit the investigating agency. A number of rallies were organised to mobilise and unite a particular community,” application read.

Lal Singh and the then industries minister Chander Parkash were forced to resign after they participated in a Hindu Ekta Manch rally on March 1, allegedly arranged to support the accused. Prosecution attached some newspaper clippings, including one where Lal Singh had organised a rally at Rasana village, where the crime took place. The crime branch said ‘there is every apprehension of intimidation, security threat and creation of hurdles in production of material witnesses, in the case, if the names of the witnesses were disclosed in advance’.

The application stated that the case had taken ‘communal overtones’ with some political leaders backing the accused in the case. The judge is likely to pass an order in this regard on August 1. Despite repeated attempts, defence lawyer AK Sawhney could not be reached for a comment.