Jammu, Feb 6: Clarifying that there is no crackdown in the Billawar town of Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday said the suspected Over Ground Worker (OGW) called for questioning did not die due to custodial torture but committed suicide at his residence.
Police refuted the allegations levelled by the former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in her post on X claiming that Makhan Din, aged 25 from Perody, Billawar, was detained by the SHO of Billawar on false charges of being an Over Ground Worker (OGW).
He was reportedly subjected to brutal thrashing and torture, forced into a confession, and tragically found dead today (Thursday), she posted.
Deputy Inspector General, Jammu-Kathua Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma in a statement, termed the allegations baseless and said, “there is no crackdown in Billawar town, traffic plying smoothly, normal routine life is functioning in Billawar, youth in Billawar is enjoying their life, going to school, college and routine work running smoothly.”
“Further, internet facility in district Kathua has not been hampered.
Whatever is said in tweet of Mehbooba Mufti is not true,” the DIG said.
He stated that Makhan Din was the nephew of Pak exfiltrated Terrorist Swar Din alias Swaru Gujjar, adding, “he is helping in the same group that conducted the Badnotta Army Convoy attack in July 2024 in which four Army Jawans were Martyred. It is the same group which led to the killing and Martyrdom of HC Bashir in Kohag Opertaion.”
Makhan had number of suspicious contacts in Pak and other foreign countries, he said adding, “There was no custodial torture or injury. He was questioned and then got exposed, went home and committed suicide.”
In this regard, the cognizance has been taken by and DC Kathua Rakesh Manhas and a magisterial enquiry has been ordered.
Additional SP Operation Billawar Amir Iqbal, DySP Javaid Tabassum, SDPO Billawar Neeraj Padyar, concerned SHO have reached the spot and met his family members and assured fair and transparent investigation.
Taking serious note of this incident senior officers have ordered a departmental inquiry which will be conducted by DIG Shiv Kumar.
The enquiry officer has been directed to submit his report at the earliest to higher ups. The public is requested to pay no heed to the rumors and co-operate with the Police,” said the top cop.
Meanwhile Mehbooba Mufti also posted that there’s an ongoing crackdown, with more individuals being picked up.
This incident appears to follow a troubling pattern of targeting innocent youths on fabricated charges. I urge the DGP @JmuKmrPolice to initiate an immediate investigation,” she posted further.–(UNI)