By IANS,
Jammu : Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra late Monday evening announced a judicial probe into the cremation by police of a man who had committed suicide last week to demand that allotment of land be restored to the Amarnath Shrine Board.
Kuldeep Kumar was cremated at Bishnah in the wee hours of July 24 allegedly without respecting religious sanctity.
The demand for the judicial probe was made by all parties in Jammu after it was alleged by eyewitnesses that police used kerosene and liquor to light the pyre of Kuldeep, who had allegedly committed suicide July 23 demanding that the land order allotment be restored to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.
The police disputed the version of the dead man’s relatives, including his wife Shilpi.
The announcement of a judicial probe was made at a meeting chaired by the governor in Srinagar, according to an official release.
“The governor has taken note of the conflicting versions of the police and the relatives of the deceased and the strong public sentiments on this issue and decided to ascertain the truth through a judicial probe.
“This inquiry shall be conducted under the Commission of Enquiries Act by Justice O.P. Sharma, Retired Judge of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, and the report submitted within three months,” the release said.
Kuldeep’s wife Shilpi told newsmen that police had used liquor and kerosene to cremate her husband’s body. The police, however, maintain that all respect was shown to the body.
But eyewitnesses said the pyre was lit in the pre-dawn hours, thus violating Hindu religious rites which forbids cremation before sun rise and after sun set.
Meanwhile, the governor has ordered transfer of Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu Alok Kumar.
Vohra has also directed the Principal Secretary, Home, Anil Goswami, and Director General of Police, Kudeep Khuda, to camp in Jammu and take steps for the restoration of normalcy, the release said.