Youth allegedly died in police custody, family blames police
SRINAGAR, MAR 18 (PTK): A youth, who was detained by the Jammu and Kashmir police from Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, died last night with his family alleging that he was killed in police custody.
Reports said that the victim, Rizwan Asad, was picked up by the state police in connection with a militancy related case some days ago. Sources said he was initially held by the district police after which he was shifted to Srinagar.
Rizwan Asad died in police custody at Srinagar during the intervening night of March 18 and 19. Police confirmed this death, saying that the matter is being investigated and the cops who were interrogating him are being questioned.
Reports said the victim, who was working as a teacher at a private school, died at Cargo camp of J&K Police’s Special Operations Group.
“A magisterial inquiry under 176 CrPc has been initiated to ascertain the cause of death after which any action can be taken,” the officer, who is not authorised to speak with the media, said. The J&K police has also ordered a separate inquiry to probe the youth’s death.
Tension is rising in Kashmir in the aftermath of the youth’s ‘killing’ with authorities suspending work at Islamic University in Awantipora to prevent and law and order problems. Rumours abound, in the absence of a proper official account.
According to various reports, the Inspector General of Police has requested for a magisterial probe into the incident.
Pertinently, before the news about Rizwan’s killing broke, authorities at Islamic University of Science and Technology postponed the semester examinations.
Meanwhile intense clashes broke out in Awantopora area. “Local youth assembled outside police station Awantipora and pelted stones on government forces, who retaliated by firing tear smoke shells”, reports said.
In the afternoon, Police issued a statement saying that in pursuance of “terror case investigation”, one suspect Rizwan Pandit was in police custody.
“The said person died in police custody. In this matter while following the procedure laid down in section 176 of crpc a magisterial enquiry is underway.”
Separately police investigation has also been initiated in the jurisdictional area of incident, it said.
The incident comes in the midst of a sweeping crackdown launched by the J&K Police against the separatists, Jamaat-e-Islami and their alleged sympathisers in Kashmir Valley in an attempt to restore a semblance of peace on the streets ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Last night, the J&K Police arrested a prominent religious cleric along with ten youth during nocturnal raids in the restive Pulwama district. Officials said Moulvi Amin, who led prayers at Khankhahi Mir Sahib mosque in Pulwama was arrested from his home while at least 10 youth were held from Drabgam village of the same district.
Since union home ministry banned the Jamaat, over 300 leaders and activists of the socio-religious group, leader and activist of Hurriyat and suspected over ground workers of militants have been arrested by police.
Situation continues to remain tense in Kashmir with a civilian shot dead by unknown gunmen last evening in Tral area of Pulwama district, in fourth such killing in the past five days in south Kashmir. (PTK)
