Supreme Court Orders CBI Probe Into Barbaric Torture of J&K Constable by Fellow Policemen

Supreme Court Slams J&K Police Over ‘Barbaric’ Custodial Torture of Constable

By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 28 July 2025

Judiciary Steps In After ‘Systemic Collapse’ in Rights Protection

In a stunning rebuke of the Jammu & Kashmir Police, the Supreme Court of India has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the gruesome custodial torture of a fellow police constable, Khursheed Ahmad Chohan, at the Joint Interrogation Centre, Kupwara, in February 2023.

The case involves six policemen—including a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)—who allegedly inflicted brutal torture, including genital mutilation and electric shocks, on Chohan, a serving constable, for reasons that are now under criminal scrutiny.

Calling it a “barbaric and inhuman act”, the Supreme Court overruled the J&K High Court’s earlier dismissal of a plea for CBI intervention, saying the incident represented a “gross failure to uphold fundamental rights” under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court’s Hard-Hitting Verdict

Key Directives from the Apex Court:

• CBI Special Investigation Team (SIT) to take over the probe

• All six accused to be arrested within one month

• Investigation must be completed within 90 days

• ₹50 lakh compensation to be paid to Chohan, to be recovered from the accused officers

“This is one of the most barbaric instances of custodial torture in recent memory… not only a violation of law but a betrayal of the uniform,” observed the bench.

Shocking Medical Findings: “Torture Beyond Comprehension”

According to the forensic and medical reports, the level of torture inflicted upon Chohan reads like a page out of a war crimes dossier:

Confirmed Injuries:

• Complete mutilation of genitalia, including the surgical removal of both testicles

• Electric shocks applied to sensitive organs

• Red pepper forcibly inserted into rectum

• Repeated beatings with iron rods

• Falanga injuries (brutal whipping of the soles)

• Multiple fractures and deep bruises across limbs and back

Doctors unanimously confirmed that these injuries could not have been self-inflicted, directly challenging the initial police claim that Chohan attempted suicide.

“We have treated victims of accidents and assaults before. But this case is beyond comprehension. It’s as if he was tortured in a dungeon,” said a senior surgeon from SKIMS Srinagar who examined Chohan.

Who Are the Accused?

All six are alleged to have played active roles in Chohan’s prolonged torture, either by direct assault or by abetting and covering up the act.

Why This Case Matters: Institutional Rot Exposed

This is not an isolated incident of police brutality. What sets this case apart is that:

• The victim was a serving officer, not a civilian.

• The assault happened within an interrogation centre, a state-sanctioned facility.

• The initial probe was sabotaged, allegedly by senior officers shielding the accused.

• The state High Court dismissed the need for external investigation, triggering questions on judicial accountability at regional levels.

The Supreme Court intervened only after national outrage and multiple legal appeals from Chohan’s family and rights activists.

“When those sworn to protect citizens become perpetrators of horror, the system collapses from within,” noted Justice Hima Kohli during the proceedings.

Larger Context: A Pattern of Abuse?

Jammu & Kashmir has long been under the spotlight for custodial abuse and human rights violations, especially in conflict-ridden districts like Kupwara.

Key Concerns Raised:

• Weak internal accountability mechanisms within J&K Police

• Impunity culture due to overlapping jurisdiction between civil police and security forces

• Lack of medical documentation and delay in reporting injuries

• Interference in investigations and medical reports by senior officials

According to NHRC data, over 125 custodial deaths were reported in J&K in the past decade, but less than 10 resulted in convictions.

What Rights Bodies Are Saying

National and international human rights organizations have lauded the Supreme Court’s intervention.

• Amnesty International India: “This ruling reaffirms the need for independent investigations in custodial cases across conflict zones.”

• People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL): “The Supreme Court has reminded India that torture is not a tool of the state—it is a crime.”

Timeline of Events

What Happens Next?

The CBI’s SIT will now:

• Record statements of the victim, his family, and witnesses

• Analyze medical records and forensic evidence

• Investigate alleged attempts to cover up the crime internally

• Examine the role of senior officers in delaying or suppressing the case

Meanwhile, the victim, Chohan, remains in long-term trauma care, with permanent physical damage and deep psychological scars.

Final Word

This case is more than an aberration—it is a chilling reminder that unchecked power can lead to unspeakable cruelty, even within state institutions. The Supreme Court’s proactive stand in ordering a CBI probe and compensation offers a glimmer of hope for justice, accountability, and institutional reform.

If justice is to prevail, the system must not stop at arrests—it must root out the culture of impunity that allowed such brutality to take place.