Srinagar, May 23: Suspecting a foul play in the mysterious death of Muhammad Ashraf Khan son of Ghulam Muhammad of Harwan, a government official working with Directorate of Economics and Statistics Planning and Development department, his colleagues including the Director Wednesday staged protests demanding a speedy probe into the matter even as they accused the police of sleeping over the case.

THE MYSTERY
 In April, Ashraf, a Statistical Officer, died under mysterious circumstances when he visited his brother’s shop at Nehru Park and left for a walk at around 9 PM on the fateful evening.
 Ashraf and his friend Tanveer Ahmed, a senior official with the Legal Metrology department went for a walk but didn’t return till late.
 As the family got worried, they phoned Ashraf but there was no response. Some hours later the family learnt that Tanveer was lying in hospital in a state of shock and they went looking for Ashraf who was found lying on the Boulevard. He was rushed to hospital where doctor’s declared him brought dead.
 The man in his early 40s was married some three years ago. He is survived by wife and a two years old daughter. Till now the City police has miserably failed to make any breakthrough in the case.

THE PROTESTS
 The protests held at the premises of Directorate of Economics and Statistics Planning and Development Department, were attended by all the cadres of Department to express “deep agony and anguish over the gulf created by the death of the departed soul.”
 The protesters including the Director BR Lachotra accused the police of inaction.
 The protesters said: “We condemn the inaction of the police authorities who have seemingly gone into the deep slumber ever after the catastrophe fell on the family of the bereaved.”
 The officials resolved to impress upon the police to utilize all possible resources “including hi-tech gadgetry to solve the matter at an earliest so that the victimized family may receive the justice.”
 “The general appeal was generated that most desirable quick action be initiated by the higher-ups of the administrative authorities to probe deeply into the matter and help the truth to surface in order to overcome the injustice and suspicion which has overclouded the matter,” the employees said in a handout.

THE POLICE FACTOR
 Since the mysterious death, his family has pinned hopes on the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Syed Ahafadul Mujtaba, who has a credible record of cracking the crime cases to his credit, to personally look into the matter.
 Similar were the observations of the protesters who appealed the police in general and DIG in particular to look into the matter for a quick breakthrough.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 IST