Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 15: A 23-year-old labourer hired by the Power Development Department (PDD) died of electrocution while reportedly repairing equipment at a grid station in the Bishnah area here today, triggering protests by his family and locals who alleged foul play in the incident.
The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Aslam, a resident of Shibba Bamyal in Nagrota.
His family claimed that they were informed around 8:30 AM by a PDD official that Aslam had suffered burn injuries while repairing electrical equipment at the Lalyana Grid Station in Bishnah.
“When we reached the site, we found only his body. There was no PDD official present,” said a family member.
He alleged that when they later questioned some PDD staff, they were told that Aslam had died due to electrocution.
“If my brother died due to electrocution, why did all PDD staff, including the Junior Engineer concerned, flee the scene?” asked the deceased’s brother, suggesting that there was more to the incident than being claimed.
The family has demanded a thorough investigation into the matter to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the young labourer’s death.
The situation turned tense when locals and family members staged a protest by placing the body on the road outside Bishnah Hospital. The dharna led to traffic disruption in the area.
Police officers, including the SHO of Bishnah Police Station, reached the protest site and assured the family that a fair and detailed investigation would be carried out.
Following the assurance, the protest was called off.
Meanwhile, police said inquest proceedings have been initiated and the body has been sent for post-mortem.
Further investigation is underway, they said.
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