Srinagar, Aug 10: Another policeman was arrested on Wednesday for his alleged role in the custodial death of a 26-year-old youth, Nazim Rashid Shalla.
A police spokesman while confirming the arrest said, “Special Investigation Team arrested one more policeman Head Constable Janak Raj (No. 708/AP 7th) in case FIR No. 202 /2011 under section 302 RPC lodged in police station Sopore regarding the death of Nazim Rashid Shalla son of Abdul Rashid Shalla of Alam Dar Mohalla, Sopore”.
With the arrest of Janak Raj, the SIT probing the custodial death of Nazim has so far arrested three policemen for their alleged role in the killing, which took place on July 31.
Earlier, on August 6, two policemen – Selection Grade Constable Nisar Ahmad (No. 203/Sopore) and Selection Grade Constable Mohammad Abass (No. 243/ Sopore) were arrested.
Sources said the arrested policemen had been suspended soon after the death of the youth. “The policemen, who had tortured Nazim were identified during preliminary investigations and subsequently the trio were arrested,” they said.
A resident of Krankshiven locality in Sopore, some 54 kms North of Srinagar, died in the custody of the policemen after he was picked up last week for questioning in a case.
The authorities have already attached DySP Sopore and transferred SP Sopore Altaf Khan.
It is pertinent to mention here that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah recently said exemplary punishment will be given to the guilty policemen.
“The case has been registered against the persons involved under Section 302, which means murder. We will ensure that punishment to the guilty should be an example so that nobody dares to commit such an act in future,” he said.
