Two cops held for custodial death in Sopore town

Two policemen were arrested on Saturday for their alleged involvement in the custodial death of a youth in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district last Sunday,officials said. Constables Nissar Ahmad and Mohammad Abbas were taken into custody by the Special Investigation Team late this evening in connection with the death of 28-year-old Nazim Rashid alias Anjum in police custody on July 31. They said the arrested cops,along with a sub-inspector,had been suspended soon after the death of the youth.

Nazim,A resident of Krankshiven locality in Sopore town,died in custody of Special Operations Group (SOG) after he was picked up last week for questioning in connection with a case.

A medical board was constituted by the District Magistrate of Baramulla while an autopsy was conducted on the youth¿s body. A murder case under section 302 RPC has been registered.

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This was the first custodial death in Kashmir since 2009. A youth,Manzoor Ahmad from Aloochibagh area in the city,died in SOG custody in May 2009.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah,while describing the incident as a gross human rights violation,had promised swift action against the guilty. Omar had said he expected police to set an example of those involved in the death of the youth so that incidents like these do not occur again.