Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 28: A 20-year-old youth who was allegedly tortured mercilessly by the police men at Police Post Ari in Mendhar tehsil of district Poonch, has lost both of the kidneys and the doctors of Govt Medical College Hospital Jammu have placed the victim on dialysis.
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate Mendhar taking cognizance of the matter directed Tehsildar Mendhar to record the statement of the youth and initiate inquiry into the matter. The victim, Saddam Hussain, son of Mohd Afsar, resident of Saruti village and his friend Mohd Alias of the same village, were picked up on January 2 by police as suspects in a theft case. The theft took place in the house of one Mohd Sufi some time back. These boys remained in custody up to January 5.
The family alleged that on the intervening night of January 4-5, Incharge Police Post ASI Mohd Raqeeb Mir and SGC Mohd Khursheed brutally tortured Saddam and his associate. The youth was kicked at his stomach several times and beaten up with lathis and blows. As the blood started coming out from Sadam’s mouth, the cops frightened and they shifted him to Sub Divisional hospital Mendhar at around 2 am. He went unconscious and doctors after providing preliminary treatment referred him to Rajouri hospital and from there he was sent to Govt Medical College hospital, Jammu the next morning.
The family alleged that doctors at GMC conducted several tests and it was found that his both the renals had been damaged. The boy remained in GMC for twenty days and he was placed on dialysis. Two days back, the ASI Raqeeb reached the GMC and after meeting doctors managed his discharge and also stole his Medical record file and disappeared. The poor family members reached Mendhar yesterday.
As all the relatives and villagers came to know about the matter, they placed boy on cot and placed it at Shahidi Yadgar Mendhar today and started protest against police. They were raising slogans against police demanding action against ASI and SGC of Arhi Police Post. Later, Tehsildar Abdul Kabir and Naib Tehsildar besides SHO Mendhar reached the spot with the intervention of SDM. They recorded the statement of victim, his associate (eye-witness) and the family members as well. The SDM has ordered an inquiry into the matter. The Medical examination of the youth was again held at SDH Mendhar under the supervision of Dr Riaz and the victim was again referred to GMC on the basis of his condition. The family said that three dialysis of the victim have been done in GMC and they had asked for third this week but ASI using his influence and manipulation, managed discharge from hospital.
SP Poonch, Shamsheer Hussain when contacted said that the matter was in his knowledge and he has directed DySP Dar Poonch to hold inquiry into the matter. He however, said that during questioning in theft case the boy had vomiting and he was hospitalized but he was not tortured much by the cops. The SP said the doctors at Rajouri established kidney problem, which seems to be old and prior to his arrest. The inquiry report has yet to be submitted by the officer, he maintained.
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