JAMMU: A court in Katra town of J&K’s Reasi district has asked police to submit an action taken report (ATR) over a complaint seeking an FIR against Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) officials for alleged criminal negligence that resulted in the deaths of 34 pilgrims en route to the cave shrine in a landslide on Aug 26.After going through the contents of the complaint, sub-judge Sidhant Vaid said since more than one and a half months had passed since the filing of the application, he deemed it appropriate to call for an ATR from Reasi SSP and SHO of Bhawan police station before resorting to the provisions of section 175 (4), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).The judge pointed out that as per the mandate of section 175 (3) of BNSS, a judicial magistrate may, after considering an application supported by an affidavit and police’s submissions, conduct an inquiry as he thinks necessary before passing an order directing an investigation.He further observed that the complainant, Rohit Bali, had followed the mandate of sections 173 (1) and 173 (4) BNSS, having submitted the application for registration of an FIR before Adhkuwari police post in-charge and Bhawan police station SHO on Aug 28, and forwarded it to Reasi SSP on Sept 16.The judge directed a copy of the order, along with the application, to be forwarded to the SSP and the SHO to submit the ATR within two weeks, and listed the matter for Oct 30.The complainant has alleged that on Aug 26, when entire J&K was on ‘red alert’ due to incessant rains/flash floods and cloudbursts, IMD as well as J&K Disaster Management Authority had issued warnings/weather advisories, the Vaishno Delvi shrine board CEO did not stop the yatra or issue any advisory. Because of the “criminal negligence” on part of the CEO and other officials of SMVDSB, the yatra continued and pilgrims from different parts of the country were killed near Adhkuwari, it added.
