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NC worker dies in police custody, relatives protest
The death of a ruling National Conference worker, allegedly involved in corruption and blackmail, has landed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in fresh trouble. The Government has ordered an inquiry by a sitting High Court judge after the allegations that the 61-year-old Syed Muhammad Yousuf Shah died after being summoned and quizzed by the Chief Minister at his residence.
Shah’s relatives held a protest demonstration in Srinagar alleging that Omar Abdullah and his junior Home Minister Nasir Aslam Wani were responsible for the “custodial death”. A videographed post mortem was conducted on Shah’s body by a Board of Doctors on instructions of District Magistrate Srinagar but the findings were not immediately available.
The Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) termed the death as “custodial killing” and had sought answers from the Government on the floor of House. Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh said that the “custodial death” has occurred in police custody or at the residences of Chief Minister and his junior Home Minister.
An official spokesman, however, said that Shah was being escorted to the office of the Inspector General of Police (Crime Branch) when he complained of abdominal pain. He was examined by doctors and subsequently asked to undergo medical tests. On Friday morning, while he was undergoing ultrasonography in the police hospital, he suffered a massive heart attack and died, the spokesman added.
Officials said that two workers, Muhammad Yousuf Bhat and Abdus Salam Rishi, had complained to the Chief Minister that Shah had received huge amounts of money from them against promise of favours from the Government. The Chief Minster summoned the trio to his camp office where Shah admitted to having received an amount of84 lakh from Bhat and34 lakh from Rishi.
The spokesman said that when the Chief Minister realised the seriousness of allegations, the IGP (Crime) was called and directed to verify the facts and take further action. When the three persons were being escorted to the Crime Branch office, Shah developed uneasiness and nausea but was immediately attended by doctors.
Unconfirmed reports said that Chief Minister’s security personnel manhandled Shah before his death. One of the officers in CM’s security has been transferred, sources said.
Shah’s relatives staged a protest demonstration near Residency Road where most of the newspapers have offices. His son Talib Hussain said that Shah, who was a protected person, received a call from Nasir Aslam Wani’s residence at midnight on Thursday and he immediately left to meet him. “When I called my father after he left, I could hear heated argument taking place in the background,” he alleged. The relatives alleged that Shah was killed in custody.
The official spokesman said that the Government has decided to approach the Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir for appointment of a sitting judge to probe the death. The body was handed over to his legal heirs for last rites.
Shah’s relatives held a protest demonstration in Srinagar alleging that Omar Abdullah and his junior Home Minister Nasir Aslam Wani were responsible for the “custodial death”. A videographed post mortem was conducted on Shah’s body by a Board of Doctors on instructions of District Magistrate Srinagar but the findings were not immediately available.
The Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) termed the death as “custodial killing” and had sought answers from the Government on the floor of House. Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh said that the “custodial death” has occurred in police custody or at the residences of Chief Minister and his junior Home Minister.
An official spokesman, however, said that Shah was being escorted to the office of the Inspector General of Police (Crime Branch) when he complained of abdominal pain. He was examined by doctors and subsequently asked to undergo medical tests. On Friday morning, while he was undergoing ultrasonography in the police hospital, he suffered a massive heart attack and died, the spokesman added.
Officials said that two workers, Muhammad Yousuf Bhat and Abdus Salam Rishi, had complained to the Chief Minister that Shah had received huge amounts of money from them against promise of favours from the Government. The Chief Minster summoned the trio to his camp office where Shah admitted to having received an amount of84 lakh from Bhat and34 lakh from Rishi.
The spokesman said that when the Chief Minister realised the seriousness of allegations, the IGP (Crime) was called and directed to verify the facts and take further action. When the three persons were being escorted to the Crime Branch office, Shah developed uneasiness and nausea but was immediately attended by doctors.
Unconfirmed reports said that Chief Minister’s security personnel manhandled Shah before his death. One of the officers in CM’s security has been transferred, sources said.
Shah’s relatives staged a protest demonstration near Residency Road where most of the newspapers have offices. His son Talib Hussain said that Shah, who was a protected person, received a call from Nasir Aslam Wani’s residence at midnight on Thursday and he immediately left to meet him. “When I called my father after he left, I could hear heated argument taking place in the background,” he alleged. The relatives alleged that Shah was killed in custody.
The official spokesman said that the Government has decided to approach the Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir for appointment of a sitting judge to probe the death. The body was handed over to his legal heirs for last rites.
