Srinagar, June 18: Autopsy of the teenaged city youth Tufail Ahmad Matoo, killed in a police action in Rajouri Kadal past Friday, has confirmed that he was killed by a teargas shell which damaged his brain and skull, belying the police claims that it was a case of “mysterious death.”
Confirming the receipt of the autopsy report, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Meraj Ahmad Kakroo, said, “Yes I have received the autopsy report. The cause of death is due to an accelerated propellant which has hit the head of the deceased. It is death due to a teargas, suggestive of intermediate range refilled weapon.”
The teargas shell, Kakroo said, had damaged Tufail’s skull and brain. “That is what the autopsy says, apart from certain other technical details,” he told Greater Kashmir.
The autopsy report has belied the police version that Tufail’s killing was a case of mysterious death. When the incident took place on June 11, a police handout issued to media said that cops had not fired a single bullet or teargas shell in Rajouri Kadal area. “As per medical examination of the wound of the victim the case appears to be of deliberate murder. Police is on look-out for two persons who dropped the deceased at the
SMHS hospital in a Maruati car and disappeared from the scene,” the police handout read, seeking “co-operation of people to trace the Maruti and its inmates so that this mysterious death of the young man is solved and culprits were brought to book.”
The medical team which conducted the autopsy submitted the report to the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Friday morning. “I had directed the Medical Superintendent of Police Hospital Srinagar to submit the report immediately,” Kakroo said.
The four-page report, he said, would be forwarded to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, with a direction that the “matter may be investigated quickly.” “The SSP in turn will direct the same to the investigating officer,” Kakroo said.
Police has meanwhile ordered an inquiry into the killing. “It is death due to a teargas shell. We have ordered an inquiry into it. The inquiry would be conducted by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Central Kashmir, who will submit the report soon. He has already taken up the assignment,” said the Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad.
He said the earlier police claim was “apparently wrong information.” “It is not the question of lying. The mysterious death claim was the initial information, which proved to be wrong. Nobody would like to lie on the issue,” the IGP told Greater Kashmir.
Sources said the autopsy was conducted by a team of medicos including Dr Roohi, pathologist from Government Medical College Srinagar, Dr Shafqat Nazir, assistant surgeon, Police Hospital Srinagar, Dr G Q Shah, Medical Superintendent, Nursing Home Gukpar and Dr Riyaz, assistant surgeon, Medical Officer Allopathic Medicine, Miskeen Bagh.
The family of Tufail Matoo, however, said they were yet to receive the autopsy report. “As of now, we haven’t seen it. All we want is that the killers should be identified and brought to book,” said Shakeel Ahmad, Tufail’s uncle. “We are roaming from one police station to another to get the FIR lodged, but everybody is turning down our plea. Now we have moved court and are waiting for the court directive.”
Tufail Ahmad Matoo (17 years) of Saida Kadal was a student of 12th class at Government Higher Secondary School Hazratbal. He passed his matriculation from the Radiant Public School, Malla Bagh, Srinagar.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST