Omar rules out his resignation over custodial death row

Srinagar, Oct 6: Facing a political storm over the custodial death of a political worker, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Oct 5 ruled out his resignation or giving up the Home portfolio.

Omar also said he has done no wrong and that he would like a judicial inquiry to unravel the truth in weeks.

"I have full faith that the truth will come out. I see no reason why I should resign either as Home Minister or Chief Minister," he told a TV channel.

The row over the death of 61-year-old National Conference worker Syed Mohammad Yousuf allegedly in police custody last week shortly after being handed over to the Crime Branch in connection with bribery allegations has escalated triggering demands by PDP and BJP for Omar's resignation. Yousuf was handed over to the police after his meeting with Omar at the Chief Minister's residence.

"I didn't do anything wrong. He(Yousuf) was absolutely fine. Nobody laid a finger on this fellow so long he was in my residence. I would like to believe that nobody laid a finger on him even after he left my residence," Omar said.

Omar further said, " I would like the judicial enquiry to be completed in weeks, not months." He said he is ready to appear before any judicial probe.

The Chief Minister said by handing over Yousuf to police he has taken cognisance of serious allegations of corruption and bribery against the NC worker.

According to the J and K government, the preliminary report of the postmortem of Yousuf showed no external injuries and the apparent cause of death was stated to be "cardio-respiratory arrest".

"The board of doctors in their preliminary postmortem report has certified that no external injuries were found on the body of deceased," Home Secretary B R Sharma said on Monday.

Abdul Salam Reshi, who said he was present during the interaction between Omar and Yousuf, claimed the deceased was fine when he entered the room but was visibly unwell after he came out of the CM's residence. Reshi, a NC worker from Kokernag, claimed that Yousuf vomitted soon after coming out of the CM's residence.

PTI