Fugitive army major Avtar Singh held in US

Former army major Avtar Singh, who had gone into hiding after allegedly killing human rights activist Jaleel Andrabi in 1996, has been traced to the US.

Singh, declared proclaimed offender by the court of chief judicial magistrate in Srinagar, was arrested after his wife allegedly lodged a case of domestic violence in California.

Jammu and Kashmir Police are now preparing to seek his extradition to face trial in the 14-year-old case. “Our country has an extradition treaty with the US. We have completed all formalities and paperwork, and warrants will be soon sent to the government of India, so that it can process the case for his [Singh’s] extradition,” Raja Ajaz Ali, inspector general of police (crime branch), said.

Singh of 103 territorial army was posted in Kashmir at the peak of militancy in the early nineties. The Haryana native arrested lawyer Andrabi when he was driving with his wife on March 8, 1996. Later, his body was recovered from the Jhelum river on March 27.