J&K Govt Orders Probe Into Alleged Custodial Killing Of Sopore Youth Amid Public Pressure

23-year-old Irfan Ahmed Dar of Sopore was allegedly killed in custody by police on Aug 16. The single-member committee had been asked to submit a report within 20 days

(Representative photo)

Sopore: The J&K government has ordered an inquiry into the alleged custodial killing of Sopore youth, 23-year-old Irfan Ahmed Dar of Sopore who was allegedly killed in custody by police on Aug 16. Deputy Commissioner Baramulla will conduct the inquiry and submit a report within three weeks.  According to the family, Irfan was arrested by Kashmir Police during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, after which police had claimed that his dead body was recovered from the Tujjar Sharif area of Sopore. Police however claim that he dies due to unknown reasons after he escaped from their custody during a raid. "Notwithstanding the public pressure demanding a probe into the killing, the government on Thursday ordered an inquiry into the killing by a single-member committee, which has been asked to submit a report within a stipulated time frame of twenty days", read an order issued by the J&K govt. In an order issued by DM Baramulla G.N Itoo on Thursday, he said “Whereas allegations are leveled against Sopore police for the custodial killing of the subject. Whereas, this incident was also reported by SSP Sopore to vide his No. CRB/enquiry/-176/2020/28631-32 dated 16-09-2020. Whereas to find the truth it has become expedient to institute a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Now, therefore, in the exercise of powers conferred upon me as district magistrate under the section of 176 RPC, Mr. Mohammad Ahsan Mir, KAS Additional district magistrate Baramulla is ordered to conduct a magisterial inquiry in the above-mentioned case so as to ascertain the causes and circumstances leading to the death of Mr. Irfan Ahmad Dar son Mohammad Akbar Dar A resident of Sidiq Colony Sopore. The inquiry officer shall submit his report within a period of twenty days, the order reads. WATCH | Srinagar: 3 terrorists killed in Batmaloo encounter, CRPF deputy commandant injured