Thaindian News

Srinagar, Aug 1 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday said action will be taken against those responsible for the custodial death of a man in north Kashmir’s Sopore town a day earlier.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Omar said: “Action has to be taken against the guilty. We have initiated steps to enquire into the circumstances that led to this death in custody.”

“We are not interested in covering up any of the facts or protecting anybody. Certain steps have been taken under Section 302 (murder).”

“We will ensure that full force of law is brought upon the guilty to make an example of them so that nobody decides that the law can be treated shabbily,” he said.

Dispelling doubts that investigations would take months, Omar said: “I want this done in days, not weeks, not months. I have told minister of state, home, that I want immediate action in the matter.”

“It has only been 24 hours. Case has been registered. You should give us time so that nothing is done that would compromise the law,” he said.

Markets, educational institutions, banks and post offices remained closed in Sopore town Monday as a mark of peaceful protest against the alleged custodial death of 26-year-old Nazim Rashid alias Anjum.

He was picked up by the police July 30 (Saturday) in connection with the murder of businessman Muhammad Ashraf by gunmen in the town July 28.

Anjum was picked up the police following complaints by the family of the slain businessman, who alleged that he had identified the businessman to the assassins.

Anjum’s body was handed over to the family for burial Sunday evening after a team of doctors carried out the autopsy, which was videographed as evidence.

Ironically, Abdul Rashid, the father of the slain youth who lives in Krankshivan locality of Sopore, has himself been a police officer.

The state government, in a swift move Sunday, removed the deputy superintendent of police (Sopore) and posted him to police headquarters here, pending inquiry.

It also suspended three police personnel, including the in-charge of the police component, the guard commander and the sentry on duty when the man’s death occurred.