South Kashmir ‘Jama’at activist’ and school principal ‘killed’ in Police custody

Srinagar: Following reports about the killing of a south Kashmir youth in police custody thousands of people have assembled at his home in Awantipora area of Pulwama district.

On Tuesday morning, reports poured in that a youth, identified as Rizwan Asad son of Asadullah Pandit was arrested by Jammu and Kashmir Police two days ago.

The slain’s brother Zulkarnain told Kashmir Reader that following Rizwan’s arrest, police informed them that he has been taken to CARGO (SOG Camp) in Srinagar.

“Today morning we came to know that he has been killed,” he said. “Yes, my brother was associated with Jama’at-e-Islami and so is our Father.”

He said it is not a crime. “My brother has been killed in police custody in cold blood.” Rizwan was a principal of a private school in the area.

According to various reports, the Inspector General of Police has requested for a magisterial probe into the incident.

Pertinently, before the news about Rizwan’s killing broke, authorities at Islamic University of Science and Technology postponed the semester examinations.

Meanwhile intense clashes have broken out in Awantopora area. “Local youth assembled outside police station Awantipora and pelted stones on government forces, who retaliated by firing tear smoke shells.”

In the afternoon, Police issued a statement saying that in pursuance of “terror case investigation”, one suspect Rizwan Pandit was in police custody.

“The said person died in police custody. In this matter while following the procedure laid down in section 176 of crpc a magisterial enquiry is underway.”

Separately police investigation has also been initiated in the jurisdictional area of incident, it said.