Srinagar, Apr 27: The inquiry ordered by the government to look into the reasons which led to the death of a 25-year old youth lodged in sub jail Kupwara has blamed the jail authorities for his death.  
 Sajad Ahmad Dar son of Ghulam Nabi Dar, of Sangrampora Sopore, who was booked under Public Safety Act for his alleged involvement in a militancy related case, was shifted to SKIMS here on March 22 by Kupwara jail authorities after he complained of pain in the head. Sajad, a contractual employee of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), died two hours after he was admitted in the SKIMS.
 The doctors at SKIMS control room that day had said, Sajad was admitted by the police in causality ward of the institute at 10.30 am on March 22 and he died at 12.30 pm on the same day. Doctors said he was admitted in the hospital with symptoms of “Aplitic- us”.
 Soon after Sajad’s death his family members had alleged that he died due to the negligence of jail authorities. “He used to complain about the health problems especially the severe pain in his head. He developed ailment in head due to police torture in custody,” family members had alleged.
 “Sajad was admitted in Sub District Hospital Kupwara, a week after he reported to jail authorities about severe pain in the head. Had he been provided the medical aid on appropriate time he may have survived,” family had claimed. 
 Sajad’s death had sparked protests in north Kashmir’s Sopore town and people observed a complete shutdown for three consecutive days to mourn his death. Protests and shutdown forced the government to order an inquiry and Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Kupwara was appointed as the inquiry officer. He was asked to submit the report within 15 days to Deputy Commissioner Kupwara.
 “We have submitted the report to Divisional Commissioner and only the inquiry officer is aware about its content,” said officials at Deputy Commissioner Office Kupwara.
 A senior officer at Divisional Commissioner’s office in Srinagar said that they have received the inquiry report. “The inquiry officer has indicted the jail authorities for negligence. Negligence on their part resulted into Sajad’s death,” the officer said.
 Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) prisons Naveen Agarwal said that the jail officials indicted by the inquiry commission would be taken to task. “Let the report reaches to me. Action will be taken against the people who have been indicted,” the ADGP said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST