The judicial commission set up by the Jammu and Kashmir Government to probe the Shopian rape case submitted its interim report on Sunday, concluding that the two women were sexually assaulted and murdered.

According to sources, the commission has severely criticised the role of the local police, civil administration, medical team and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in the handling and shoddy investigation of the case and recommended suspension of the officials concerned.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who summoned a meeting after the 126-page report was handed over, is reportedly set to act on the recommendations.

On May 29, housewife Neelofar (22) and her sister-in-law 17-year-old Asiya had gone missing after they went to their family orchard, with their bodies subsequently being recovered from Rambiyar stream. The police had initially ruled out rape and murder, terming it a case of death by drowning, leading to massive protests. Four days later, the Chief Minister had ordered a judicial commission to probe the matter.

After 15 days of investigations, the commission — headed by Justice Muzaffar Jan, and comprising a team of 13 police officials led by Superintendent of Police Haseeb Mughal — has completely ruled out drowning as the reason for the death.

The state Government’s brief to the commission was to find out the causes and circumstances leading to the death of the two women, fix accountability and punishment, recommend remedial measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents, and establish the role of government agencies including police and the civil administration.

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