Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 5: A civilian, who had been called to Ramnagar police station in Udhampur district for questioning in connection with mysterious death of his wife, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself with ceiling of a fan in computer room of the police station in early hours of this morning, leading to massive protests from the people.
Authorities have ordered magisterial inquiry into the death of the civilian, who has been identified as Subash Chander, 35, son of Jagat Ram, a resident of village Insha in Ramnagar.
SSP Udhampur Anil Magotra said Subash Chander’s wife, Gasho Devi had died under suspicious circumstances in her house at Insha on July 22. Police had initiated inquest proceedings in the death of Gasho Devi.
He said the Investigating Officer (IO) of the police station had called Subash Chander for investigations in connection with the death of his wife yesterday. After questioning was completed at 8 pm, he was asked to go. However, Chander pleaded for stay in the police station as no bus would be available for the village late in the night.
Police claimed that they allowed the villager to stay in computer room of the police station. He was sleeping till 3 am when there was change of guard at the main gate. Later, the civilian appeared to have torn the blanket and used a part of it as a rope to hang himself with ceiling of the fan. He had reached the fan using cooler in the room, police said.
After getting a report of mysterious death of the civilians, a large number of local people of Ramnagar and adjoining villages gathered outside the police station and held a massive demonstration shouting slogans demanding an impartial inquiry into the death.
They doubted the police theory of suicide and favour inquiry into the matter. People blocked Ramnagar-Udhampur road for more than four hours shouting anti-police slogans and condemning police for keeping innocent person in the police station.
SSP Udhampur Anil Magotra assured the protesters that the Deputy Commissioner Udhampur has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death, which would be conducted by Tehsildar Ramnagar Sushil Kesar.
After the inquiry, the people called off their protests.
Police got the post-mortem on the body conducted from Board of Doctors and later handed over the body to his family for cremation.
SHO Ramnagar Inspector SS Bloeria, who was on leave, rushed back to the police station for investigations.
Meanwhile, NPP MLA from Ramnagar and former Minister Harshdev Singh has demanded a judicial inquiry into the death of Subash Chander. Alleging foul play, he said there was strong resentment among the people against the death of the civilian.
Mr Singh alleged police atrocities on the local people. He said nothing short of judicial probe would be acceptable to the people. He sought enquiry into all FIRs registered at Ramnagar police station during past one year.
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