Srinagar, June 5:
A magisterial probe has been ordered into the alleged custodial death of youth from Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said.
Police had arrested Imtiaz Ahmed Pala a resident of Braw Vandana Pulwama on evening of June 3 during a naka checking They said during the detention Pala developed “severe health complications” and was shifted to hospital where he was declared brought dead.
A senior officer said that a magisterial probe has been ordered in to the death. “A magisterial probe has been ordered to ascertain the cause and circumstances that led to his death,” the officer said. The family of the slain leveled serious allegations against the police and alleged that he was picked up during a cordon and a search operation by police.
“He was tortured to death in custody,” a family member alleged.
The body of Pala was handed over to the family last night for burial.
According to the FIR, Pala was arrested on June 3 upon a specific input about the movement of narcotic smugglers working for terrorists in Pulwama area.
“A joint naka was established at village Grawgund. During the naka, vehicles and pedestrians where being checked, frisked. In the mean time one person who was coming from Chakoora towards village Grawgund, after noticing the presence of naka party tried to flee, but the naka party tactfully chased him and during chase the suspect and Sgct Sahil Raina PSO with ASP Pulwama fell down resulting some injuries to both,” the FIR read.
“The suspect was apprehended tactfully. Upon his search Heroin like substance was recovered from his pocket of trouser. His name was ascertained Imtiyaz Ahmad Palla S/o Ghulam Mohd. Palla R/o Braw Bandena who as per preliminary questioning told that he was on way to meet some foreign terrorists active in the area of district Pulwama,” the FIR read.
A case under section 8 and 21 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act was later registered in police station Litter Pulwama. Meanwhile, former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti has demanded a probe into death of Pulwama youth in police custody.
“Imtiaz Ahmed an accused in a Narcotics case from Pulwama has died in police custody while another is battling for his life at Base Hospital in Badami Bagh. Imtiaz’s family claims he suffered grievous injuries during interrogation. An impartial probe must be initiated to get to the bottom of the truth,” Mufti said in a post on X.–(UNI)