32 months on, woman awaits husband’s post-mortem report

Custodial killing case:

Bivek Mathur
Will look into the matter, says SHO
JAMMU: About 32 months have passed since murder accused Harbans Lal, alias Panchi Ram, son of Budi Ram of Calrian, Gharota, died in police custody at Khour Police Station, allegedly during police investigation on August 27, 2014.
Till today, Sandhya Devi (33), the widow of the deceased, has not been given the post-mortem report of her husband, obviously in an attempt of JK Police to keep her in the dark about the reasons of her husband’s death. However, since the cause of her husband’s death is uncertain; the woman cannot claim the benefits of insurance policies he had bought.
Sandhya, who is Special Police Officer (SPO) at Gharota Police Station, is the sole bread earner of her family of seven members. She got appointed as SPO after the death of her husband.
As of now, she is getting a meager amount of Rs 6000 from her SPO’s job though she has big responsibilities on her shoulders.
“As I have no other source of income, it is a herculean task for me to manage the expenses of the medicines of my ailing father-in-law and mother-in-law and arranging fees of my four sons and daughter studying in school,” Sandhya told The News Now.
She said that post-custodial killing of her husband, she and her son, Naresh Kumar were promised permanent jobs as constables in JK Police by former SSP Jammu, Uttam Chand.
“My son is yet to attain the age of employability but at least, I can be appointed as a constable in JK Police,” the woman said.
On being questioned about the reason for the undue delay in the handing over of post-mortem report to the woman, SHO Khour, Ravinder Singh Rakwal said, “I think the post-mortem report is lying with the investigating officer, SDM Akhnoor but if the woman or any member of her family will approach me in person, I will assist them in getting the post-mortem report.”
SDM Akhnoor, Sunaina Sharma was not available for comments.
Pertinently, the late husband of the woman, Harbans Lal was a local businessman dealing in sale and purchase of cattle. He had an altercation with his friend, Joginder Lal, son of Shatto Ram of Camp, Khour, after which he allegedly murdered the latter.
Naresh Kumar, the son of the deceased, says his father was picked by then SDPO Farooq Qaiser, SHO Khour, Surinder Raina, constables, Vijay Kumar and Sanjeev Kumar on July 27, 2014 for investigation in connection with the murder of Joginder Lal.
“My father was kept at Khour Police Station for 9 days and Akhnoor Police Station on the 10th day. On 11th day, my father was released after we paid Rs 25,000 to then SHO Khour, Surinder Raina and Rs 5,000 to then Munshi Khour, Vijay Kumar,” Naresh said.
Naresh said that his father was again called for investigation and on August 25, 2014, with the help of local Sarpanch, Raju, he was handed over to then SP concerned, M.L. Kaith.
“On August 26, 2014, my uncle, who had gone to the Khour Police Station to give lunch to my father, was not allowed to visit my father and on August 27, my papa was found dead in police custody,” Naresh said.
He said, when locals staged a protest at GMC&H over the custodial death, then SSP Jammu, Uttam Chand and SP M.L. Kaith had assured a magisterial probe into the killing besides offering permanent job to him and his mother.
“Till today, neither my mother has been appointed as Constable nor have we been given the post-mortem report,” he claimed.