South Kashmir man ‘called for questioning’ succumbs to burn injuries

A 55-year-old man from South Kashmir who set himself on fire after allegedly being called by the police for questioning in connection with a terror module case succumbed to his injuries at a hospital here, officials said on Monday.

The deceased, identified as Bilal Ahmad Wani, a dry fruit seller from Qazigund, was shifted to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar late on Sunday after his condition deteriorated at a hospital in Anantnag, officials said. He died of burn injuries shortly after midnight.

Family members said Wani had been called to the Qazigund police station on Saturday morning and released that evening. They said he appeared “distressed” after returning home. According to them, Wani’s son Jasir Bilal and brother Naveel Wani were detained a few days ago by the police. Meanwhile, on Monday, Jasir was arrested by the NIA team from Kashmir.

Wani was a neighbour of Dr Adeel Majeed Rather, one of the accused arrested in the alleged “white-collar terror module” from whom security agencies recovered a large quantity of explosives in Haryana. Dr Adeel’s questioning had also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle kept inside a locker at GMC, Anantnag, where he worked in 2024.

The J&K Police are also investigating the role of Adeel’s brother, Dr Muzaffar Rather, who is believed to be currently based outside India.

A health official told The Tribune that Wani was brought to the Srinagar hospital with severe burn injuries. “He had over 70 percent burns,” the official said, adding that he later succumbed.

On Sunday morning, he poured petrol from the car on himself and set himself ablaze, the family members said.

The J&K Police have not yet made a statement about the matter. A senior police officer, however, denied the allegation, saying only Wani’s son was involved in the terror module case and he had no adverse past record.