Makhan Din’s wife, Zona Begum, is four months pregnant and now faces an uncertain future with their two daughters, three-year-old Yasmin and one-year-old Saima Akhtar. The grief-stricken family struggles to come to terms with his sudden death.
“He was the one who held our home together,” Zona said, sobbing as she held her children close. “He worked day and night to feed us. Now, what will I tell my daughters? How will I raise them without him?”
On February 5, 25-year-old Gujjar Bakarwal man, Makhan Din, who was a resident of Balawar in Kathua district, allegedly took his own life after what his family describes as “brutal police torture.” His death has sparked outrage, with political leaders demanding a fair investigation.
Makhan Din’s father, Muhammad Mureed, accused the police of detaining him and his son on baseless charges of being Over Ground Workers (OGWs) linked to militancy. “The SHO of Balawar police station took us in without any proof. They beat my son mercilessly and accused him of things he never did. They wanted a confession, but he was innocent,” Mureed said.
He recounted the horrors of the detention, saying that the police not only assaulted them but also verbally abused them. “They stripped him, hung him upside down, and kept beating him. He cried out for mercy, but they wouldn’t stop,” he said.
Mureed said that after they were released, Makhan Din was visibly shaken and refused to eat for days. “He barely spoke, but I could see the fear in his eyes. He told me, ‘Abba, they will come for us again. They won’t let us live.’ And he was right—he couldn’t bear the pain anymore.”
Before ending his life, Makhan Din recorded a video detailing his ordeal. In the footage, he repeatedly asserted his innocence and said the police had pressured him to confess to being a militant sympathizer.
Screenshot from last recorded video
“They want me to admit something I never did. I am not a militant. I never helped any militant. But they beat me so much that I can’t take it anymore,” he said in the video, his voice shaking. “I don’t want my family to suffer like I have.”
The video has since gone viral, leading to widespread condemnation of the police’s actions.
The family has refused any financial compensation and is instead demanding legal action against the officers involved.
“We don’t want money. We don’t want sympathy. We want justice,” said Makhan Din’s elder brother, Lal Din. “The culprits should be punished for what they did to him. How many more innocent men will have to die like this?”
According to the family, even after Makhan Din’s death, the police tried to silence them. “They sealed off our village, blocked internet services, and threatened people who wanted to protest,” said Mureed. “They think they can bury the truth, but we won’t let them.”
Enquiry launched
The case has drawn attention from political figures, with PDP leader Iltija Mufti visiting the grieving family and calling for an impartial probe. Independent MLA Dr. Rameshwar Singh from Bani has also condemned the incident and demanded justice.
Meanwhile, the government has ordered separate investigations into the case. However, the family remains skeptical. “We don’t trust these so-called inquiries,” Lal Din said. “The officers who tortured my brother must be arrested.”
The administration has launched a magisterial inquiry into Makhan Din’s death, led by Tehsildar Anil Kumar, under the direction of the Kathua District Magistrate, Rakesh Minhas.
However, the investigation has faced delays, with officials citing the pending forensic lab report as the main reason.
Meanwhile, the Jammu Kashmir Police have initiated their own inquiry, overseen by DIG Shiv Kumar Sharma. The police have denied any custodial torture, stating that Makhan Din was only questioned and later took his own life after being “exposed.”
Despite these investigations, the family remains skeptical, alleging that authorities are trying to suppress the case.