J&K administration takes action against doctors in Asiya Nelofer case

J&K administration terminates services of two doctors for fabricating evidence in Shopian rape-murder case

| Updated: 23 June, 2023 1:43 am IST
Doctors charged with fabricating evidence in 2009 Shopian rape murder case finally terminated (Photo for representational purpose only)

SRINAGAR, J&K: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday terminated the services of two doctors, Dr Bilal Ahmad Dalal and Dr Nighat Shaheen Chiloo, for allegedly “actively working” with Pakistan-based groups and fabricating evidence in the 2009 “Shopian rape-murder” case, officials here said.

J&K government has terminated Dr Dalal and Dr Chilloo from the service for actively working with Pakistan and hatching a conspiracy with its assets within Kashmir to falsify the post-mortem report of Asiya and Neelofar of Shopian, who unfortunately died by accidental drowning on May 29th, 2009.

The ultimate aim of the duo was to create disaffection against the Indian state by falsely accusing the security forces of rape and murder. The investigation reveals that the top echelon of the then government knew about the facts, which were conveniently buried, while Kashmir burned, according to government sources.

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Two women, Asiya Jan and Neelofar, were found dead in a stream in Shopian on May 30, 2009, leading to allegations that they were raped and murdered by security personnel.

The incident sparked protests in Kashmir and brought it to a near standstill for 42 days. Five people lost their lives and more than 300 were left injured in subsequent protests and violence.

Later, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the probe and found that the two women were never raped or murdered.

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The ultimate aim of the two doctors was to create disaffection against the Indian state by falsely accusing the security forces of rape and murder, they said.

The two have been charged by the CBI for fabricating evidence and twisting the accidental deaths due to drowning into rape and murder.

Dalal was the first doctor to conduct an autopsy of the bodies, whereas Chilloo was a part of the second team of doctors that conducted the post-mortem examination, the officials said.

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In a gross violation of medical ethics, Chilloo took her own vaginal swab and projected it to be that of Asiya Jan, whom she had claimed was raped and murdered, they said.

After the CBI took over the investigations, a second autopsy was conducted after exhuming the bodies of the deceased.

However, an AIIMS Delhi forensic team comprising Dr TD Dogra and Dr Anupama Raina, who conducted the post-mortem, found that Asiya Jan’s hymen was intact. They said the same reports were part of the CBI charge sheet.

In December 2009, the CBI concluded that the two women were neither raped nor murdered.

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The CBI report accused the 13 people of hatching a criminal conspiracy to stir public anger against the security forces.

Since neither rape nor murder took place, the CBI report concluded that there was no case. It said the lawyers had hatched a conspiracy and forced two persons to become witnesses.

The CBI report gave a detailed account of how the two were forced by the lawyers and some of the family members of Shakeel Ahanger, the husband of one of the deceased women.

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The CBI filed a charge sheet against six doctors, five lawyers and two civilians, including the brother of one of the deceased women, for fabricating evidence.

The CBI probe found that both teams of doctors lied in the post-mortem reports. The first team of doctors said Asiya Jan died due to cardiovascular arrest and Neelofar died due to neurogenic shock.

Dr Nighat confessed to the CBI later that she concocted the reports and that, in reality, she knew that both women were not raped and murdered.

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The second team of doctors from Pulwama claimed Asiya Jan was sexually assaulted and died due to haemorrhage and shock caused by bleeding from multiple injuries. Neelofar, the team had claimed, died due to neurogenic shock following sexual intercourse.

After 13 years of filing the charge sheet by the CBI, the government of Jammu and Kashmir finally terminated the services of two doctors.

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