Srinagar, July 25: A youth was allegedly tortured to death in police custody at Panzala Rafiabad in north Kashmir’s Varmul district last night, locals alleged.
 While the Jammu and Kashmir government ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident and suspended two cops for dereliction of duties, police claimed the youth had committed suicide.
 The residents of Fidarpora Rafiabad told Greater Kashmir that Tariq Ahmed Dar, who hailed from the area, was detained by cops of police station Panzala few days ago. “Police held him on baseless charges of being a Lashkar-e-Toiba operative and did not allow the family to meet him in custody. We were shocked to see his body this morning. Police informed us that he ended his life by committing suicide in the lock-up,” they said. “But Tariq has been tortured to death as his body had visible torture marks .He was innocent and was not involved in any militancy related activity.”
 Police had on July 18 claimed that Lashkar operative Tariq alias Jaffar injured a civilian named Abdul Majid Lone of Fidarpora with a bullet. However, the injured Lone had last week told Greater Kashmir that he saw two cops of Special Operations Group of police behind him, after he was shot. “To save the SOG men who wounded Lone, the police made Tariq a scapegoat and dubbed him as over ground worker of militants and accused him of firing at Lone,” the Rafiabad locals alleged.
 On Sunday evening a team of doctors led by Block Medical Officer, Rohama, Muhammed Ramzan conducted the autopsy on Tariq’s body. Following this, the body was handed over to the family.
 As Tariq’s body was brought to Fidarpora, hundreds of people immediately took to streets and raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. The protesters demanded action against the cops, whom they accused of torturing Tariq to death in the custody. The protests continued till late in the night.
 When contacted, the BMO Rohama Dr. Muhammed Ramzan said the cause of death would be known only after the FSL report comes. He said that post mortem was conducted by a team of doctors including BMO Dangiwacha, Dr Muhammed Maqbool and Medical Officer Panzala Dr. Ranbir Singh.
 A doctor told Greater Kashmir on the condition of anonymity that there were “visible torture marks” on Tariq’s body.

POLICE VERSION
 Talking to Greater Kashmir, the Superintendent of Police, Sopur, Altaf Ahmed Khan said, “Tariq, who was arrested in case (no FIR 36 under section 307 RPC, 7/27 Arms Act), has committed suicide in the police lock-up.” “We have suspended two policemen for dereliction of duties,” he said. The suspended cops are Ghulam Rasool (Munshi) and Surnider Singh (head constable).

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY ORDERED
 The Minister of State for R&B, Javaid Ahmed Dar, who represents Rafiabad the Legislative Assembly said, “The government has ordered a magisterial inquiry in the incident. Justice would be done with the family,” he said.

DILLAWAR CONDEMNS
 Senior Peoples Democratic Party leader, who hails from Raifabad, Muhamamd Dillawar Mir, has strongly condemned Tariq’s death and expressed sympathies with the bereaved family.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST