A teacher who had gone missing after he left for his duty last week in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district was found dead on Monday.
An official said that the body of Mushtaq Ahmad Lone ofSheikhpora locality of Mantrigam village was recovered in the morning fromWular Lake near village Laharwalpora.
He said that his body was spotted in Wular lake by locals ofLaharwalpora and they informed the police.
“The body was taken to district hospital Bandipora forpost-mortem where he was also identified by his brother and his relatives,” theofficial said.
On May 13, Mushtaqhad left from home to attend his duty at government high school Chuntimullawhere he was posted as a teacher. He didn’t return.
On May 18, family members and locals of Mantrigam villageheld a protest demonstration to seek his whereabouts.
The body was handed over to the family for last rites afterthe performance of medico-legalformalities.
Meanwhile, police have initiated proceedings under 174 Cr.PCto ascertain the cause of his death.
“The body of the deceased person was spotted by locals inWular Lake and accordingly police reached on the spot and took the body into theircustody. FSL team was rushed to the spot. The medical team was constituted forpost-mortem which included experts from GMC Srinagar , The post-mortem wasconducted in the presence of Magistrate,” said the spokesman.
He said that proper photography and videography was done ofthe entire proceedings. “Public is requested not to pay heed to rumours.Misusing social media to spread rumours is punishable under law,” he said.
Meanwhile, the family of the deceased teacher has raisedquestions over the investigation conducted by police, blaming the police forfailing to trace him over the past 7 days.
“Whatever investigation police has done so far was not doneproperly and that is the reason this incident happened. Three days ago his(Mushtaq’s) WhatsApp display picture was changed which means his mobile phonewas with someone, which police have failed to trace so far. We have our doubtsabout the police investigation,” deceased’s brother Manzoor Ahmad said.
“A few days ago police had also picked up some auto driverfor questioning who had recorded two contradictory statements in two days.Police didn’t investigate the case properly,” he said.
Meanwhile, protests erupted at Mantrigam after his body was handed over to his family.
Witnesses said that villagers including women and childrentook out a protest march demanding a thorough probe into the death of Mushtaq.
Senior Superintendent of Police Bandipora Rahul Malik saidthat they are enquiring the case from all the angles. “Proper medicalinvestigation has also been done and the report will come after a week or so,”he said.