Srinagar, Mar 19 (KNO) : The custodial death of a youth from Awantipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district was on Tuesday widely condemned while as the mainstream political party leaders have demanded time bound probe into the death.
The youth identified as Rizwan Pandit, 28, a resident of Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district died in custody today in Srinagar. He was arrested days before in connection with a ‘militancy case’. The political party leaders reacted sharply over the death of youth in the custody and demanded time bound investigation in this regard.
Former chief minister and National Conference Vice President, Omar Abdullah said the custodial death of a youth from south Kashmir’s Pulwama district was unacceptable and must be investigated in transparent and time bound manner.
“I had hoped custodial deaths were a thing of our dark past. This is an unacceptable development & must be investigated in a transparent, time bound manner. Exemplary punishment must be handed out to the killers of this young man,” Omar tweeted.
Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief, Mehbooba Mufti said GoI’s repressive approach leaves young educated men vulnerable who are forced to take up arms, saying ‘we have suffered enough’.
“Innocent men hauled up from their homes for interrogation return home only in coffins now. GoI’s repressive approach leaves young educated men vulnerable who are forced to take up arms. Stop using Kashmir to exhibit your sick chauvinistic nationalism. We have suffered enough,” Mehbooba tweeted.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Ghulam Ahmad Mir strongly condemned the custodial killing of a school teacher Rizwan Pandit, saying that Governor Administration was expected to initiate stern action against the responsible personnel.
He also said that such killings have isolated people to a largest extent in past and this incident has the potential to vitiate the atmosphere further in the valley and believe that the punishment against the responsible will restore the faith of people in the system.
Mir while reacting to the killing of Rizwan Pandit resident of Awantipora in Police custody said that Congress Party strongly condemns the innocent killing and believe that the death of any person in police custody will have serious implications on the overall situation in the valley. “Governor Administration must take effective measures to ascertain the identity of the persons responsible for the killing,” he said.
Peoples Conference (PC) chairman and former minister Sajad Gani Lone in a tweet condemned the custodial death of a youth, saying ‘this is what the sanctity of human life has been reduced to in Kashmir.’ “Condemn in strongest terms the death in police custody in Pulwama. This is what the sanctity of human life has been reduced to in Kashmir. My thoughts r with the family of the deceased,” Sajad tweeted.
Former finance minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also demanded a time bound probe into the ‘extra judicial killing’ of the youth. Expressing serious concern over the incident, Bukhari expressed his heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.
“It is highly unfortunate that a young man, teacher by profession, has lost his life in police custody and it needs to be thoroughly investigated to know what went wrong and who are responsible for his death in custody,” Bukhari demanded.
Demanding judicial enquiry into the alleged custodial killing of a 28-year-old Awantipora school teacher, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said no civilized society can tolerate such acts. “The custodial death of Rizwan Pandit must be investigated in a transparent and time bound manner and government must order a judicial enquiry into the incident immediately. Custodial killing isn’t acceptable to any human being and whosoever is involved Pandit’s killing must be given exemplary punishment. Custodial killing is a brutality and brutalities are unacceptable in whatever form they are,” Tarigami said.
Expressing grief, shock and anger over the custodial death of Rizwan Pandit, a school teacher, AIP President Er Rasheed said that Rizwan’s murder is the response shown by security agencies to Prime Minister’s declaration that security forces have been given free hand after Pulwama attack.
In a statement issued to KNO, Er Rasheed said, “There can be no excuse given by the state government and J&K Police to justify murder of Rizwan Ahmad Pandit, who was summoned to police station, tortured in Cargo and his dead body has been sent back home.”
“The incident should be matter or grave concern for the local cops who often claim to be Kashmiris and claim their respect for rights and sentiments of masses. Prime Minister of India owes an answer that why he was so inpatient to give forces a free hand to the extent that they dare to torture Kashmiris to death in custody in broad day light,” he said.(KNO)