custodial-killing-in-Rafiabad
By Bilal Furqani,Agence India Press,
Srinagar: Protests broke out in Batamaloo area on Sunday evening after body of a 35-year-old was recovered from a stream in old city while the locals of North Kashmir’s Rafiabad area alleged that a youth was killed in custody by police.
Body of 35-year old Farooq Ahmad Bhat son of Ghulam Mohiuddin Bhat of Sheikh Dawood Colony was recovered from a stream (KoutKoul) near Chotabazar, Kanikadal in old city.
The locals said Farooq had gone missing some days back. “He had left home for morning prayers some days back and never returned,” they said.
“It seems that he has been murdered in cold blood,” they alleged.
As his body was brought to his native place, the entire Batamaloo area plunged in grief and shock. The youth took to streets and staged anti-India demonstrations. Chanting pro-freedom, pro-Islamic and anti-India slogans, the protesting youth blamed police for the death of 35 year old.
Police officials said they are investigating the case.
“Farooq was engaged with a girl in Chattabal and was going to be married after Eid. The decision was taken by his family members. But he was not happy with the decision and left his home in the morning of July 20. He had also left mobile and money in the home,” a police officer said.
He also alleged that Tariq was a drug addict. “He was also suffering from diabetics,” he said.
Hundreds of people attended funeral prayers of Farooq.
Meanwhile, the protests also broke out in north Kashmir’s Rafiabad area after locals alleged that a youth was tortured to death in custody by police.
On July 18, police had claimed to have achieved a major breakthrough by solving firing case within 24 hours. They claimed that they had nabbed a “lashkar operative” Tariq alias Jaffar. He was lodged at Panzala police station after being booked under FIR No. 36/2010 under section 307 RPC, 7/25 Arms Act.
On Sunday, people took to roads Rafiabad when a word spread that Tariq died in police custody.
“He was tortured to death. How come he would commit suicide in a police lock-up,” said a resident of Saidpora, Rafiabad.
The locals alleged that Tariq died because he was tortured severely by the cops.
The protesting people were demanding action against the policemen for killing a youth in custody.
However, police claimed that Tariq committed suicide in lock up.
“During the intervening night of July 24/25, he committed suicide by strangulating himself with a trouser string inside the lockup,” SP Sopore Altaf Khan said.
He said they have conducted the post mortem of the deceased and registered an FIR under section 176 CRPC.
“Two guards, head constable and one selection grade constable have been suspended for dereliction of duty,” SP said and ruled out that death was caused due to interrogation.
He said police does not interrogate people in police stations. “A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident,” he said.
SDM is inquiring into the death of Tariq.
As the news spread that a youth had died in police custody, tension gripped north Kashmir especially Baramulla and Sopore areas.