Omar sacks govt lawyer in Shopian rape case

Hours after CM Omar Abdullah vowed to bring the culprits of Shopian rape and murder to book, the J&K government removed additional advocate general Syed Riyaz Hussain for not pleading the case well in the high court. He was conveyed the decision by the law department late on Thursday evening.

Earlier in the day, Hussain pleaded for bail to four government officers. He was preparing for further arguments on Friday when he got the sack. “He tendered his resignation, which was accepted. We urged him to continue, but he refused. We will request him to reconsider his decision,” law secretary Akthar Hussain Kochak said.

Hussain, however, accused the government of trying to incorporate certain things he did not agree with and as a result, was given the marching orders. 

“The government wanted to put up some points, which were fallacious and stupid,” he said. He also questioned the investigation process. “I told them [the government] that certain things ought to have been done but are missing. But that did not fit in the government’s political scheme,” he said.

Omar had promised the assembly that his government would spare no efforts to bring the culprits to book.