Srinagar, Oct 20: The Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) of police has been placed under suspension in grenade recovery case in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
 Well-placed sources told Greater Kashmir that ASI Abdul Gani had been suspended for negligence in duty, after grenade was recovered from the clothes of Muhammad Mukthar Sheikh who was killed allegedly by troopers in forests of Rajwar three days ago.
 Before handing the body over to family, the Army and police did not found any weapon from his possession during searches and FIR lodged by 21 RR also doesn’t mentions about recovery of any weapon from his possession.
 They said during prima–face investigation, it came to fore that that concerned police official recovered body from the Army unity and did not searched clothes properly.
 Sources said that deputy superintendent of police, Ghulam Jeelani Wani had been appointed as inquiry officer to probe the matter.
 They said police would probe the matter from all angles including whether it was lapse or grenade was “intentionally placed in the pocket during police custody to brand him as a militant.”
 “Everybody including Army and medicos who performed autopsy are under scanner,” sources said.
 When contacted, Superintendent of Police Handwara Rafiq Ahmed Vakil admitted that ASI has been suspended for laxity in duty.
 “A departmental inquiry has also been ordered in the matter .The SDPO will conduct inquiry in 15 days time and will submit report,” he said.
 Pertinently Army on Sunday handed body of 65-year old Mukthar Ahmed Shiekh claiming that he was killed in encounter between them and militants in forests of Rajwar.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST