Separate probes ordered; family seeks judicial enquiry, Rs 10L compensation
Bivek Mathur
KATHUA, Feb 6: A youth accused of aiding the terrorists responsible for several attacks on security forces in Kathua district, committed suicide in a mosque, claiming police torture as the reason.
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The incident has prompted both civil and police administrations to initiate separate inquiries into the matter.
As per available information, Makhan Din (26) and his father, Mureed, were taken into custody on Wednesday night by the Station House Officer (SHO) Billawar to investigate a militancy-related case.
Mureed, speaking to the media in Billawar, stated that both he and his son were subjected to torture at different locations throughout the night by the police team, who were forcing them to confess their involvement in the terrorism-related activities.
After their release the next morning, Mureed said, police asked Makhan to retrieve his phone from their home for further investigation into his alleged contacts with individuals in Pakistan.
Following this, he said, his son went to their home, from where he collected the phone, and then headed to a local mosque, where he created a video proclaiming his innocence, while swearing on the Quran that he had no ties to any terrorist organizations.
He subsequently ingested insecticide, leading to his death, the father of the deceased youth said.
The police, however, denied any wrongdoing, stating that Makhan was never tortured in the custody, which, they claimed was evident from the fact that there was no mark of injury on his body.
They said after the tragedy, a team of police led by SHO Billawar, accompanied by senior police officials, rather visited the deceased’s residence to assure the family of a fair investigation.
Reacting to a tweet of PDP President Mehbooba Mufti regarding panic in Billawar area owing to an ongoing crackdown against several individuals and snapping of internet services after the death of the youth due to alleged torture, Jammu and Kashmir Police said that nothing of sort has happened in the area.
“Mehbooba Mufti’s tweet is baseless and misleading as there is no crackdown in Billawar town. The traffic is plying smoothly and the normal life is functioning well in the town, with youth enjoying their life, going to schools and colleges as usual,” JKP said.
Further, they claimed that the internet facility in district Kathua was never snapped. Eyewitnesses, including MLA Bani, Dr Rameshwar Singh, however contradicted police’s claims, claiming the mobile internet was temporarily snapped in the area.
“Whatever is said in tweet of Mehbooba Mufti is not true. Makhan din was the nephew of Pak ex-filtrated terrorist Swar Din alias Swaru Gujjar. He was helping the same group that conducted the Badnotta Army Convoy attack in July 2024 in which 4 Army jawans were martyred,” the Jammu and Kashmir Police claimed.
According to police, it was the same group that led to the killing and martyrdom of Head Constable Bashir in Kohag Operation.
“Makhan had number of suspicious contacts in Pakistan and other foreign countries. There was no custodial torture or injury. He was questioned, got exposed, and then sent home, where he committed suicide,” police claimed.
In this regard, they said, the cognizance has been taken by DC Kathua, Dr Rakesh Minhas, and a magisterial enquiry has been ordered.
“Besides, senior police officers have also ordered a Departmental inquiry which will be conducted by DIG JSK Range Shiv Kumar Sharma. The committee will submit its report at the earliest to the higher ups,” police said.
An order issued by District Magistrate Kathua, Dr Rakesh Minhas said, “A magisterial enquiry is required to be conducted into the death of Makhan son of Murid of Billawar for ascertaining the actual cause of death.”
“Therefore, Anil Kumar, Tehsildar Lohai Malhar is hereby appointed as Enquiry Magistrate to conduct material enquiry in the instant case to ascertain the cause of the death and submit detailed report in the matter.”
The District Magistrate has directed the Tehsildar Lohai Malhar to submit his report within five days.
“Needless to mention here that he shall take statements of all relevant persons and adopt all requisite procedures under relevant rules,” ordered the District Magistrate, Dr Rakesh Minhas.
Another order issued by Zonal Police Headquarters Jammu said, “With regard to the death (by suicide) of a person namely Makhan son of Mureed of Salli, Billawar, a fact finding enquiry is hereby ordered, which shall be conducted by Shiv Kumar Sharma, DIG JSK Range.”
“The enquiry officer shall submit his findings in 10 days. This has the approval of IGP Jammu Zone,” the order said.
The family members of the deceased, led by MLA Bani, Dr Rameshwar Singh, however, claimed that they were not satisfied with the magisterial enquiry and want the authorities to order a judicial probe into the matter.
They also sought Rs 10 lakh as compensation for the family members of the deceased and a Government job for his wife.
“We won’t call off our protest until and unless our demands of judicial probe and Government job are not accepted by the authorities,” said Dr Rameshwar Singh, who was leading the protest.
Meanwhile, police have initiated inquest proceedings under section 194 of the BNSS to ascertain the reasons behind the death of the youth, with investigation entrusted to an SI ranked officer.
“We’ve initiated inquest proceedings and entrusted the investigation of the case to an SI ranked officer,” said DIG JSK Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma.
No officer was suspended or attached in the matter till the press time, according to the police officer.
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