The National Conference said Wednesday that the Jammu and Kashmir administration should clarify whether the Awantipora youth was in the custody of NIA or state police at the time of his death.
A 28-year-old school teacher died in police custody here during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.
Rizwan Pandit was a resident of Awantipora in Pulwama district.
“Whether the youth was in the custody of NIA or police, the responsibility lies at the door of the governor. The young teacher was in the custody of the state,” NC chief spokesman Aga Roohullah told reporters here.
He said an FIR should be registered in the matter against the officials concerned.
“Initial reports said he was in NIA custody but now the NIA is washing off its hands. Whether it was the NIA or state police, the murder happened in the custody of the state,” he said.
Roohullah asked the state administration to clarify under whose custody the “murder” happened. “We as the responsible political party and part of the sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir we would like to know and ask the state administration to clarify under whose custody the murder happened and even if it was the custody of the NIA we want the governor to file an FIR against the NIA and get the people involved in it to the book,” said Roohullah.
“If NIA is not involved which we are not ready to buy at this stage because the initial reports suggest that the custody was that of the NIA. If otherwise is proved even then the custody was that of the state. FIR should be registered and a murder case should be lodged against those involved.”
Roohullah alleged that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was becoming an “instrument of terror” in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The NIA is being used to promote a certain ideology and also to curb and suppress any alternative ideology,” he said.
The former MLA from Budgam said the governor should take steps to save the state from this “dangerous” trend. (With inputs from PTI)