Deputy CM promises judicial probe into Kulgam deaths

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary said a judicial probe will be conducted into the death of two men, who died under mysterious circumstances in South Kashmir’s Kulgam. Choudhary, along with Health Minister Sakina Itoo and CM’s Adviser Nasir Aslam visited the family members of the deceased on Tuesday.

Last month, three young men from the Gujjar community, who worked as labourers, went missing after leaving Ashmuji, Kulgam, to attend a function.

While the authorities have recovered bodies of two men from Veshow Nallah in Kulgam, the third one is still missing.

The deaths also triggered protests in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.

Choudhary told reporters today that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directed them to visit the family. “We told the family members that judicial enquiry will be done (into the matter),” he said, adding families would also be provided some monetary relief or any other assistance they required.

A J&K government spokesperson said the Deputy Chief Minister, while interacting with the members of the bereaved family, said a “thorough and transparent investigation will be initiated to uncover the truth behind the incident.”

MLAs Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Mir, Peerzada Feroze Ahmad Shah and Showkat Ahmad Ganie were also present on the occasion.

While the family have alleged foul play in the deaths, police officials say no injury marks were found during the post mortem examinations.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police had on Monday ordered an inquiry following outrage over a police officer’s actions during a protest held by the family members of the deceased in Kulgam. A video had gone viral on social media showing a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)-rank officer kicking a woman during the demonstration on the national highway on Sunday.