Srinagar: A youth died allegedly in police custody in north Kashmir’s Sopore town, an incident termed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as “inexcusable”.
28-year-old Nazim Rashid alias Anjum, resident of Krankshiven locality in Sopore town, died in custody of Special Operations Group after he was picked up yesterday for questioning in connection with a case, officials said on Sunday. As the news of his death spread in his locality, the market in the area observed a complete shutdown.
Additional security forces have been deployed in many parts of Sopore town for maintaining law and order while a large contingent of police personnel have been put on stand by in Police Control Room Srinagar to meet any eventuality.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, S M Sahai said details will be released “soon”. This is the first custodial death in Kashmir since 2009.
A youth, Manzoor Ahmad from Aloochibagh area in the city, died in SOG custody in May 2009. Omar wrote on the micro-blogging site Twitter that “The death of Anjum in police custody is a gross human rights violation and inexcusable.”
The Chief Minister said he expected police to make an example of those involved in the death of the youth so that incidents like these do not occur again.
“I expect the police to do nothing less than make an example of those responsible so that nothing like this even happens again,” he wrote.
Omar promised exemplary action in the case. “Swift and exemplary action. No delays, no cover ups (and) no excuses. That is all I can promise and ensure,” he said. (PTI)