NHRC calls for explanation from J&K authorities on non-compliance of Commission's guidelines in a case of death in police custody

http://muslim-minority.blogspot.com/2011/08/nhrc-calls-for-explanation-from-j_04.html

http://www.nhrc.nic.in/dispArchive.asp?fno=2359

New Delhi, August 4th, 2011
The National Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance on a complaint regarding death of Nazim Rashid, aged 28 years, in the police custody at Sopore town, North Kashmir in Jammu & Kashmir on the 31st July, 2011.

The Commission received a complaint about the incident from Dr. Lenin of People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights, PVCHR on the 1st August, 2011 through email, whereby he referred a news link which alleged that Nazim Rashid, resident of Alamdar Colony of Krankshiven tortured to death by the Special Operation Group (SOG) of police and Army officials in Sopore Town.

The family members of Nazim alleged that their son was picked up by the SOG of police in the presence of army officials on the afternoon of the 30th July, 2011 for questioning in connection with the killing of a labourer, Muhammad Ashraf Dar, who was killed by the militants. On the 31st July, 2011 they came to know through some journalists that Nazim was died in police custody and also post mortem was conducted in presence of a Magistrate. The family of deceased also alleged that the dead body of Nazim was not handed over to them.

Abdul Rashid Shall, father of Nazim alleged that he saw the dead body of his son. There were visible marks of torture in it and it was swollen since they forcibly fed him with buckets of water.

The Commission going through the complaint and asked its Director General (Investigation) to collect the requisite reports from the concerned authorities within eight weeks, along with an explanation from DGP, Jammu & Kashmir as to why the intimation about the death in judicial custody was not communicated within 24 hours to the Commission, as per its guidelines.