Villagers protest as shopkeeper ends life after alleged harassment by cops

By
Daily Excelsior
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Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, July 11:  Suicide by a shopkeeper from Kagote in Ramnagar following alleged harassment by  Kashmir Police cops led to strong protest by the villagers and family members of the deceased, here today.
Shouting slogans against the Kashmir Police and demanding justice, the protesting Kagote villagers blocked Ramnagar – Udhampur road for three hours after keeping body of the deceased on road.
They alleged that the deceased Mulkh Raj, who was running a sweet shop at Qazigund in Kashmir, was being harassed by some policemen for money. These cops used to threaten the deceased of dire consequences and registration of false cases against him if he did not pay them money for smooth business, the family members alleged claiming that the police harassment forced the victim to commit suicide by consuming some poisonous substance.
The dharna was lifted only after SDPO Ramnagar Manish Kumar and SHO Ramnagar Dy SP (Prob) Hamid Bandey reached the spot and pacified the protesters. They assured a proper inquiry into the circumstances leading to suicide by the deceased and necessary action in this regard.
According to SSP Udhampur Anil Magotra, statement of family members of the deceased could not be recorded today as the latter were busy in last rites. The local Sarpanch claimed to have a video clip in which the deceased has accused his neighbour Bishan, working in Kashmir Police, of forcing him to commit suicide by trying to falsely implicate him in a police case at Qazigund Police Station, the SSP said adding that the Police have started investigations into the matter for further action.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, mystery shrouded death of a young man, whose body was found from Mand Puthi Khad under the jurisdiction of Rehambal Police Station.
The deceased was identified as Ravinder Singh (32), son of Prem Singh of Childe Chenani Udhampur.
Police took the body into custody and shifted it to hospital for conducting post mortem while a case has been registered in this connection.

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