April 05
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday morning visited Kangan and consoled the family of Gawhar Rather who was killed by the cops on Tuesday. She visited the town defying the suggestions by the security detail, insiders in the government said.
“Chief Minister assured the family that she will ensure the killers of their son are brought to book,” an official accompanying the Chief Minister said. “She spent half an hour with the family.”
Gowhar was killed on Tuesday and the family accused the police for it. The police registered an FIR and detained a cop, Gulzar Ahmad.
When Chief Minister reached the town at 9:00 am, there was sort of protest and shock, But the Chief Minister drove to the Rather’s family that lives in the middle of the town and spent some time with them. She termed the killing very unfortunate and assured the family that justice will be done.
Officials said she sat with the parents of slain Gowhar, his sister and brother. They were bitterly crying over the loss. She was with the family as slogans and protests were going on in the town at a distance. Later, she talked to some protesting youth as well. She made no speech anywhere, officials added.
The town was tense after the killing. It was because of severe curfew restrictions on Wednesday that the town reported peaceful day.
Police initially maintained that he fell down in the chase and was injured near the drain. However, family sources said the CT Scan identified some foreign objects in his brain. Rather had a wound near his ear and huge swelling of one of his eyes.
The police have already ordered a departmental inquiry into Gowhar’s killing to be headed by DIG central Kashmir. Separately the district administration has ordered the magisterial inquiry to be completed within 20-days.