New Delhi: Demonstrations were held to demand a police investigation into the matter after the body of a young man, missing for three days, was recovered Thursday from the Jhelum at Jammu and Kashmir’s Awantipora.
Superintendent of Police (SP), Awantipora, Aijaz Ahmad Zargar told ThePrint that an “initial probe revealed the youth had run away from his house towards Jhelum” and that the matter is being probed by local police.
According to media reports, the deceased, Aadil Manzoor who worked as a labourer, had been missing for three days. After he went missing, his family informed the police on 15 July and a missing persons report was subsequently filed.
According to the police, three people who were last in touch with him were questioned.
“They were gambling and there was a patrol vehicle. They got scared and started running and tried to cross the river. One of the men said he (Manzoor) had crossed the river and doesn’t know where the deceased went,” a senior officer said on condition of anonymity.
Manzoor’s body has been sent for post mortem.
On Thursday, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief and former chief minister Mehboob Mufti Thursday alleged that the Awantipora police assaulted a journalist covering the demonstration by Manzoor’s family.
Mufti also urged the Inspector General of Police, J&K, to take immediate action in the matter. In the video, security personnel are seen hitting a man with an ID card around his neck.
“Strongly condemn JK Awantipora Police’s handedness. A young man from the area died under mysterious circumstances & his family has been rightfully demanding a probe. Instead of coming to their rescue @JmuKmrPolice has instead assaulted QNS journalist Irshad Hajam for reporting the truth,” Mufti wrote.
Strongly condemn JK Awantipora Police’s handedness. A young man from the area died under mysterious circumstances & his family has been rightfully demanding a probe. Instead of coming to their rescue @JmuKmrPolice has instead assaulted QNS journalist Irshad Hajam for reporting… pic.twitter.com/Tr84evpw1x
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) July 18, 2024
Asked about the alleged assault, Zargar said he wasn’t aware of any such incident.
“Lots of journalists covered the event. I am unsure who this person in the video is. We will take this up for investigation as well,” he said.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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