Organization For Human Rights and Harmony - OHRH

"Nikhil Padha, a Jammu-based lawyer, had filed a complaint with the NHRC on June 28 last year after the two incidents triggered outrage across Jammu and Kashmir, with netizens and some political parties outraging against the “disgraceful conduct” of the police personnel"

NHRC Summons DC and SSP Poonch Over Non-Compliance in Alleged Custodial Deaths

New Delhi, March 2025: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Poonch, to appear in person for failing to submit reports on alleged custodial deaths and torture.

The complaint, filed by Advocates Nikhil Padha and Prashant Sharma, pertains to the deaths of Safeer Hussain, Showkat Hussain, and Shabir Ahmed in an anti-terror operation on December 22, 2023, along with allegations of brutal custodial torture of five other individuals from the Gujjar Bakarwal community in Poonch, J&K.

Despite NHRC’s directives on March 5, 2024, and subsequent reminders, the authorities failed to submit the judicial magisterial inquiry report. The Commission, taking serious note of non-compliance, issued conditional summons under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

“This action reinforces the NHRC’s commitment to justice and accountability in cases of human rights violations,” said Advocate Nikhil Padha.