SHRC asks JK police to file report on alleged custodial death

Srinagar, June 12 (UNI) The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) in Jammu and Kashmir today directed the police to file by June 26 a factual report on the alleged custodial death of a 61-year-old man.

The directions came on an application by the family of Mohammad Yaseen Gatoo, a resident of Barapather, Batamaloo in Srinagar city, seeking directions to the state government to conduct an independent inquiry into his death allegedly in the police custody.

In the application, the family alleged that Gatoo was taken into custody by the Batamaloo police station on a complaint by two brothers -- Showkat Ahmed Shah and Abid Hussain -- also residents of Barapather, Batamaloo, from his house on June 9 at around 2030 hrs.

The family members further said that Gatoo was in perfect health at the time of his arrest. They claimed that several residents of the area also saw the police personnel escorting Gatoo to the Batamaloo police station.

The family members, in the application, said the police informed them on June 10 morning that Gatoo had died and his body has been kept in the police hospital here.

They alleged that the police personnel had ''mercilessly beaten up'' Gatoo during the intervening night of June 9-10 in the custody.

''Apparently, the injury sustained by Gatoo on his head and knees in custody proved fatal and resulted in his death. It seemed that the head had been hit by a weapon,'' the application said.

The family members further alleged that Gatoo's body was hurriedly taken to the police hospital here for a post-mortem without informing them with an intention to ''conceal the murderous assault and the brutal killing.'' They demanded immediate exhumation of Gatoo's body and a fresh post-mortem be conducted so that the ''truth comes out'' and also alleged that police had refused to register a case in this regard.

The family members said they have approached the SHRC to seek justice and also demanded an independent inquiry into the killing.

In a press release here on Sunday, the police had claimed that an old man, Mohammad Yaseen Gatoo, a resident of Barapather Batamaloo, died ''due to excessive consumption of alcohol'' on June 10.

Police also said they have taken cognizance and initiated proceedings under section 174 CrPC in this regard.

Passing orders on the application, the SHRC directed the police authorities to file a complete and factual report on the entire incident before it by June 26.

The SHRC also asked the Additional Director General of Police (Criminal Investigation Department - ADGP-CID) to submit a separate factual report on the matter by June 26.

UNI