Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 22: Police authorities today ordered suspension of three police officials including one Sub Inspector following protests by the people over the death of an ex-serviceman, who had been beaten-up by the police personnel few days back for carrying bottles of Rum from a defence canteen to his house at village Dedpeth under the jurisdiction of Chatru police station in Kishtwar district. A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered into the death.
Reports said 64 years old exe-serviceman—Havaldar (Retired) Raja Ram son of Bishan Dass, a resident of village Tagoot in Dedpeth area was heading towards his house after taking four bottles of Rum from Defence canteen when he was intercepted by the police personnel at a naka at Dedpeth four days back.
He was mercilessly beaten-up by the cops at naka and then taken to police post. Locals said he was released the next day but the cops snatched his four bottles of Rum, Rs 18,000 of pension amount and a mobile telephone.
The senior citizen couldn’t bear the trauma of police torture and reportedly died of cardiac arrest last night in the hospital, where he was shifted after he felt uneasiness at home.
A large number of people took the body of Raja Ram to Dedpeth and blocked Kishtwar-Chatru road shouting slogans against police and demanding action against the police constables responsible for beating-up the senior citizen. The protesters kept dead body of the ex-servicemen on the road for more than five hours till senior police and civil officers rushed to the spot and assured the people of action in the matter.
Authorities later ordered suspension of Incharge Dedpeth Police Post Sub Inspector Madan Lal Sharma and two police constables Shabir Ahmed and Suresh Kumar.
DIG Doda-Ramban range Ashkoor Wani said the civil authorities have also ordered magisterial inquiry into the entire incident.
Following action, the people lifted body of the deceased and took it to his home village Tagoot, where the victim was cremated.
Police said further action against the erring police officials would be taken on the basis of inquiry. Police claimed that the ex-serviceman died natural death. It said the civilian was not arrested or taken to police post but admitted that he was beaten-up by the cops at naka for possession of Rum bottles.
Local people, however, blamed police for the death of ex-serviceman and demanded stern action against the police constables responsible for beating up the senior citizens, which, they said, led to his death.
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