Srinagar The J-K High Court has asked the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of J-K Police probing the rape and murder of two Shopian women to submit case diaries and two Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reports before the court on Friday.

The High Court also expressed its displeasure over the police’s inaction at the initial stages after the two women went missing on May 29.

Hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Kashmir Bar Association on June 6, the Division bench Judge comprising of Chief Justice Barin Gosh and Justice Mohammad Yaqoob observed that police should have registered the case on the very first day.

“Under law the police should have filed the case on first day when the two women went missing,” the Chief Justice observed. “Next day when the bodies were found police must have registered FIRs according to the provisions of criminal procedure code.”

The Division bench expressed their displeasure over police inaction in registering the case instantly.

While arguing the case, on behalf of Bar Association, Mian Qayoom gave a detailed account of the happening after the two women Nilofar and Asiya of Shopian went missing.

“Even the case was registered after eight days,” Qayoom said while arguing the case. He said that police was hushing up the case from the day one. Qayoom said the constitution of the Judicial Commission was also an attempt on part of the government to prolong the issue and safeguard the culprits.

“The way government handled the case and tried to shield the criminals we were prompted to move to the Court and seek investigation under the Court,” he said.

Qayoom said that how can the SIT which is headed by Superintendent of Police, investigate the Shopian case in which another SP is an accused. The senior advocate suggested that the probe in to the sensitive case should have been conducted by an independent inquiry.

A PIL was submitted in the High Court by Kashmir Bar Association Kashmir on June 6 for an independent investigation by the court into the case.

The Chief Justice asked the advocate general of the State about the delay in registering the FIR. The Chief Justice also directed the SIT investigating the case to produce the case dairies and all records about the case on July 3.

The Chief Justice directed the advocate general to present his views on Friday when the case would come up for hearing.

Meanwhile, the strike in south Kashmir’s Shopian town entered second month on Thursday.