Alleged custodial killing in Sopore: DC Bla directs ADM to conduct enquiry within 20 days

Srinagar: Amid outrage over alleged custodial killing of a 23-year-old youth in north Kashmir’s Sopore town, the authorities on Thursday ordered a magisterial inquiry to ascertain the causes and circumstances leading to the death.
The deputy commissioner Baramulla Dr G.N. Itoo today directed Additional District Magistrate Baramulla Muhammad Ahsan Mir to conduct enquiry into the alleged custodial killing.
“……In exercise of powers conferred upon me as district magistrate under section 176 of Criminal Procedure, Mr Muhammad Ahsan Mir, KAS, additional district magistrate Baramulla is order to conduct a magisterial enquiry in the abovementioned case so as to ascertain the causes and circumstances leading to the death of Mr Irfan Ahmad Dar Son of Muhammad Akbar Dar R/O Sidiq Colony Sopore,” reads the order.
The inquiry officer shall submit his report within a period of 20 days, the order reveals. The order states that allegations of custodial killing have been levelled against Sopore police.
“There was huge outcry in Sopore and even it is reported in the media that the deceased was picked up by Sopore police on 15-09-2020 and was therefore in their custody,” it further states.
The order further states that SSP Sopore also reported the incident to DC Baramulla vide his no. CRB/ ENQUIRY/176/28631-32 dated 16-09-2020.
As already reported, massive protests erupted in Sopore on Wednesday against the alleged custodial death.
The police, however, claimed the deceased was an ‘Over Ground worker (OWG)’ who tried to escape from their custody and that later his body was found in Tujjar Sharif.
“The OGW while taking advantage of darkness and terrain managed to escape regarding which a separate case FIR No. 71/2020 U/S 224 IPC was registered in Police Station Bomai and during search the body of OGW was found near a stone quarry of Tujjar-Sharief,” the police statement reads.