Court asks for documents to prove Avtar Singh is dead

A local court has asked the prosecution to provide documents to authenticate the death of Major Avtar Singh, who was the key accused in the murder of Kashmiri human rights lawyer Jaleel Andrabi.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar Rajeev Gupta on Wednesday directed the prosecution to produce some authentic records pertaining to the death of accused Major Avtar Singh on the next date of hearing on June 21.

The magistrate passed the orders after the prosecution informed the court about the media reports on Singh's death in the United States on June 9.

Singh, who was facing extradition from the United States to face trial in the Andrabi murder case, had allegedly committed suicide after killing his wife and two children. The third child of the former army officer, was admitted to a hospital in a critical condition.

Andrabi, a human rights activist and a lawyer, was allegedly kidnapped by Singh on March 8, 1996, and his body was fished out from a river 15 days later.

A chargesheet was filed against the army officer after an inquiry ordered by the Jammu and Kashmir high court found that Singh was prima facie involved in the murder of Andrabi.

Singh had fled to Canada but surfaced in California last year after his wife lodged a police complaint of domestic abuse against him. She also informed the police that Singh was wanted in a murder case in Srinagar.

On the last date of hearing on June 6, the court had directed the prosecution to submit an English translation of the chargesheet against Singh for his speedy extradition to India.