Ajay Raina
JAMMU, Aug 27: A murder accused allegedly died in police custody at Khour Police Station in tehsil Akhnoor, while as Station House Officer (SHO) and two constables were suspended and a magisterial vis-à-vis departmental inquiries have been initiated in the case.
However, family members and relatives of the deceased staged protest outside Khour Police Station and mortuary at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) against alleged atrocities by the police.
As per police sources, Harbans Lal alias Panchi Ram, son of Buti Ram, a resident of Calrian, Gharota and Joginder Lal, son of Shato Ram, a resident of Camp Khour were doing business of ‘Cattle Sale and Purchase’. Few days back, the duo had some altercation over some issue and in the fit of rage Harbans Lal allegedly murdered Joginder Lal and fled from the spot.
On getting information, police rushed to the spot and shifted the body of Joginder Kumar to mortuary of GMCH, where after conducting postmortem, the body was handed over to family members for last rites, sources added.
“An inquest proceeding under Section 174 CrPC was initiated by the Police Station Khour in this regard. During the course of investigation, police team from Khour Police Station arrested Harbans Lal during the intervening night of August 26 and 27 and while interrogation by the police cops he confessed to commit the crime. Accordingly a case under FIR number 51/2014 under Section 302 RPC got registered against him at Police Station Khour”, sources said.
They stated that during the intervening night of August 26 and 27, the accused felt some uneasiness and police rushed him to Public Health Centre (PHC), Pallanwala from where he was later referred to GMCH, but he breathed his last on the way to GMC Hospital.
The body of the deceased was shifted to mortuary of GMCH, where postmortem was conducted by the Board of Doctors including Dr Jyotsna from Department of Pathology, Dr Kailash Singh Thakur from Department of Surgery and Dr Sunil Sharma from Department of Forensic Medicines, sources said, adding that after conducting autopsy, the body was later handed over to family members for last rites.
Sources stated that during postmortem, it came to fore that the deceased was having injury marks on his whole body including nose and mouth, which clearly indicates that the deceased was beaten up severally in the police custody.
However, in view of death in the police custody, the SHO Police Station Khour SI Surinder Raina and two constables namely Vijay Kumar (in-charge Munshi) and Sanjeev Kumar have been placed under suspension. Relatives of the family and local people, however, demanded action against SDPO Akhnoor Farooq Qaiser blaming him for the torture.
As the death of the deceased has taken place in police custody and therefore to establish the truth and cause of death of the deceased, a Magisterial inquiry has been initiated under Section 176 CrPC, which will be headed by Assistant Settlement Officer Sanjay Kumar Gupta. A departmental inquiry has also been initiated in this case.
As the news of the death spread in the native village of the deceased, hundreds of people including family members and relatives assembled outside Khour Police Station and mortuary of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and staged protest against alleged atrocities by the police.
They alleged that the deceased died in custody of Police Station Khour after he was beaten up severally by the police personnel including DySP Akhnoor Farooq Qaiser.
The protestors blamed DySP Farooq Qaiser for torturing the deceased severally as the body was having injury marks and demanded immediate action against DySP Akhnoor and other police personnel involved in the death of the man in the police custody.
SSP Jammu Uttam Chand along with SP Rural Mohan Lal Kaith rushed to GMCH and assured the protestors of partial probe into the death of the man in police custody. They also assured of strict action against the police personnel, who will be found involved in the incident.
On the assurance of SSP Jammu Uttam Chand and SP Rural ML Kaith, the protestors dispersed.
Follow our WhatsApp channel