Locals on Thursday staged a protest in Awantipora to demand an investigation into the mysterious death of a local boy.
The family members speaking to the media demanded an impartial probe into the matter. “From the 15th, Aabid had been missing after which we lodged a missing report. There were blood marks on his body with injuries, we seek an impartial enquiry into the matter,” said his brother Aadil.
In a statement Police said, Aadil Manzoor reported his brother, Aabid Manzoor Dar, missing early on Thursday morning. “Aabid, 35, a labourer, had not been seen since the morning hours. Following the report, Awantipora Police registered a missing person report and launched an investigation,” the statement read.
The Police, using technical analysis of Aabid’s Call Detail Records (CDR), identified three individuals who had recently been in contact with him.
Upon questioning, these individuals disclosed that they had been gambling by the roadside with Aabid and when a nearby police patrol approached, the group panicked and fled. Police said in their statement.
“One individual mentioned crossing the river but was unaware of Aabid’s whereabouts. The police also questioned boatmen on the Jhelum River and other acquaintances of Aabid, but their efforts yielded no leads. Subsequently, a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team was deployed. The team discovered Aabid’s body near Barsoo,” read the statement.
Following the dead body’s retrieval, a postmortem examination is being conducted by a board of doctors to determine the cause of death, said Police.
The locals staged protests on Jammu-Srinagar highway near Barsoo seeking a probe into the event, during which one journalist was assaulted by Police. The video has gone viral on social media.
Meanwhile, the Jammu Kashmir National Conference tweeted expressing regret over the incident stating, “Following the mysterious death of a young local man, Aabid Manzoor Dar, near Awantipora, a day back his family has been justifiably seeking a fair investigation. Instead of aiding them, the police allegedly manhandled a local journalist, Irshad Hajam, who was covering the protest. We insist on an impartial inquiry into the incident and condemn the assault on the journalist.”
Police said that an investigation under Section 194 BNSS has been initiated, and all relevant facts are being considered. ” Awantipora Police urges the public to refrain from spreading rumours and to cooperate with the ongoing investigation,” the statement read.