A 16-year-old murder case of prominent human rights activist and lawyer Jaleel Andrabi has taken a new twist after the main accused, former Indian army officer and Interpol’s most wanted fugitive Major Avtar Singh, killed three members of his family before shooting himself dead at his California home in the US on Saturday.

US media reports said Singh murdered his wife and two of their children before killing himself at his California home where he was hiding.

Singh of 103 Territorial Army was posted in Kashmir during the peak of militancy in 90s. Hailing from Ambala, he had arrested Andrabi when he was driving with his wife on March 8, 1996. Andrabi’s body was recovered from Jhelum on March 27, 1996.

Singh had gone into hiding after killing Andrabi. But in February last year he was located in the US after his wife lodged a case of domestic violence against him in California. The case exposed Singh who was declared proclaimed offender by a court of chief judicial magistrate in Srinagar a few years ago.

“If the death of the accused is confirmed, the case against Singh will be closed (in Kashmir). We have submitted an application in the court seeking further investigation in the case. If the court accepts our request then the trial would go on”, said Hafizullah Mir, counsel for Andrabi family.

Legal process notwithstanding, Singh’s death has brought back the horror of 1996 tragedy for the family. Phones at Andrabi house have not stopped ringing since morning with well-wishers calling to know the latest about the case.

“We wanted Singh to be tried, condemned and hanged for his crimes in Kashmir. He was coward in his life that is why he killed innocent people here and then applied same tactics on his family. But his killing is not an end to justice. There are other accused in the case and we will pursue it till it its logical conclusion”, said Arshad Andrabi, brother of slain Jaleel Andrabi.

J&K High Court Bar Association said Singh was the chief executor of the high level conspiracy.

“There was miscarriage of justice since Singh was not tried for his crimes in Kashmir. It was a high level conspiracy and Singh was its chief executor”, said GN Shaheen, general secretary of Association.