Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 24: Projected as natural death of a young housewife by her in-laws, it was ultimately turned out to be gruesome murder after special police team from Rajouri re-opened case after exhuming body from grave, seeking permission from the District Magistrate.
The police arrested husband Abdul Shakoor of 23-year old victim, Ruksana Kouser of village Falni in Budhal and his two associate including a real brother. The special investigation team has also questioned the role of a few cops in Budhal Police Station who tried to hush up this case despite the fact that parents of the girl had lodged an FIR alleging that girl was murdered and they had definite information regarding beating and her torture. The husband and members of in-laws family had buried the woman’s body in hush- hush manner without informing girl’s parents and brothers. Even the neighbours had raised objections and also intimated police sensing some foul play.
The incident took place on August 30, 2013. The in-laws declared that Ruksana died during night while sleeping. They buried the body at Falni in the morning quietly without informing relatives on both sides. Girl’s father Abdul Qayoom hailing from Samote village in Budhal when came to know about the matter reached Falni in the house of daughter’s in-laws. He came to know about some foul play from neighbourhood and also got suspicious over the response of the members of in-laws family. The parents lodged a written complaint with the Budhal Police but no action was taken by the local police due to reason best known to them. However, the role of local police was exposed after special team reopened the case and conducted thorough investigation. Axe may fall on some cops, against whom the locals were demanding strict action for their dubious role.
Observing inaction from Budhal Police, parents and relatives of the girl approached DySP, Operation Sheikh Aijaz on September 5, who discussed the issue with SP Rajouri Mubassar Latiffi. The SP directed the DySP to reopen the case and conduct thorough investigation.
Accordingly, the Police sought permission from the District Magistrate F C Bhagat to exhume the deadbody of the deceased woman from graveyard. The police team then in presence Ist Class Magistrate and relatives of the girl exhumed body from the grave and a Medical Board conducted postmortem. The preliminary reports indicated that some of her bones had fractures. It clearly indicated that she had been done to death.
The police team picked up the husband of the deceased and placed under sustained questioning. During interrogation, he broke and confessed that he along with his brother Mohd Ayub and another close relative Mohd Nazir eliminated her. After exhuming body on September 12 the police has started inquest proceedings under section 174 CrPC. Now, it is being converted into murder, the police sources said. Husband and his associates have been apprehended. A few more persons are likely to be apprehended in this connection. The relatives and locals have also sought action against SHO Budhal and two other cops of the Thana for protecting accused under `influence’.
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