Undertrial prisoner dies; family alleges torture, blocks highway

Sumit Sharma. Updated: 11/10/2019 10:19:09 AM Front Page

6- doctor board conducts postmortem, inquiry initiated

JAMMU: The traffic on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway was halted for four hours after the family of an undertrial prisoner who died during treatment at a hospital, blocked the road at Parmandal near Bari Brahmana and demanded an inquiry into his death, which they alleged happened due to custodial torture.
The protestors who were demanding compensation for the family of deceased were pacified by senior officials from Samba and Jammu administrations. The road was cleared only after the assurance of suitable compensation and an impartial inquiry into the deceased’s death.
The administration also constituted a six-member board of doctors which conducted the postmortem.
40-year-old, Khuda Bakash, a resident of Kollad village at Bari Brahmana was arrested in a drug-related case about on October 6 by Bari Brahmana police after four kg Poppy Straw was recovered from his possession.
Khuda Bakash was sent on judicial remand on 28 October and was lodged in Kathua's Hira Nagar jail, the officials said.
On Thursday, he had complained of severe chest pain, following which he was shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital for treatment, they said.
“He died on Saturday. After the news of Bakash's death reached his family members, they blocked the Jammu-Pathankot highway at Parmandal morh near Bari Brahmana—connecting Jammu and Samba district and demanded an inquiry into his death,” a senior official said.
His death triggered mob protests as protestors put the body of the deceased on Balol bridge on National Highway and raised anti-police slogans. The protestors were demanding magisterial inquiry and compensation to the family members of the deceased, who is survived by three children and a wife.
The family alleged that the he had injury marks on his body which showed that he was tortured in jail.
Soon, heavy jam was witnessed on the Highway following which senior police and civil officers were rushed to the scene to persuade the protesters to disperse.
To pacify the protestors, the district administration Samba and Samba police led by SSP Samba Shakti Pathak, ASP Samba Faisal Qureshi, SDPO Bari Brahmana Sunil Kesar were rushed to the spot.
Since the protest was held under the jurisdiction of district Jammu, the senior police officers of Jammu including SP City South and SHO Gangyal also rushed to the spot.
“Commuters faced great inconvenience as the traffic remained chocked for hours together”, said eyewitnesses.
The same was, however, was thrown open after police and district administration’s assurances that the family members would be compensated.
“Being the leader of the area, I rushed to the protest site to pacify the protestors .The family has suffered a great loss. The matter was put up before the district administration which assured compensation to the kith and kin of the deceased”, said ex-MLA Vijaypur and National Conference leader, Surjit Singh Salathia.
“A six-member board of doctors was constituted which conducted his postmortem. An impartial inquiry will be conducted as demanded by the family members of the deceased”, said SSP Samba Shakti Pathak.


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