Magisterial inquiry, suspensions after death of Gujjar youth in ‘police firing' outside Jammu
Mohammad Parvez, a 21-year-old from Niki Tawi was allegedly shot in police firing near Sure Chak village on the city's outskirts, with police claiming he had neither criminal records nor links to drug peddlers.
An FIR invokes Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita's sections pertaining to attempted murder and provisions pertaining to the Arms Act.
In his order initiating an inquiry Friday, Jammu District Magistrate Sachin Kumar Vaishya directed the inquiry officer to conclude investigation in two weeks and submit their findings.
Within hours of this, Jammu SSP Joginder Singh 'suspended with immediate effect' Head Constable Baljinder Singh and Selection Grade Constable Pawan Singh through an order issued late Friday night.
'They shall remain posted in DPL (District Police Lines), Jammu,and will deposit uniform articles in the DPL Store,' the order read, adding that 'however, they are entitled to draw subsistence allowances as admissible under rule'. In addition, police have also constituted a SIT headed by SDPO Domana Mudassar Hussain to look into the allegations of the deceased's family.
Meanwhile, the family held a burial for the youth Friday after they were promised action in the case.
In a statement issued Thursday, the police said that some drug peddlers fired at them and that 'one unknown person' was injured in the exchange of bullets that followed.
The death of the tribal youth drew strong condemnations from J&K's top political leadership, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah describing the incident as 'highly unfortunate and deeply regrettable'.
'The use of force by the police has to be calibrated and cannot be indiscriminate,' Omar Abdullah wrote in a post on X, adding: 'J&K has paid a heavy price in the past because of incidents such as these… This incident should be investigated in a transparent and time bound manner. I send my condolences to the family of Mohd Parvez. May Allah grant him Jannat'.
Former chief minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti also took to X, saying, 'Mohammad Parvez, a tribal youth, was killed by the police… He's now been labelled a drug dealer, but even if that is the case, we still live in a democratic country where justice is served through rule of law as opposed to khap panchayats or kangaroo courts.'
National Conference MP from Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency Mian Altaf Ahmed, too, expressed his anguish and grief over the death of Parvez.
'I strongly condemn the killing of a youth, Mohd Parvez, resident of Niki Tawi, in police firing in Jammu yesterday. It is a broad daylight murder. A fast-track investigation should be done and strict action (must be taken) against officials involved. My solidarity and sympathy with the victim's family,' he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
16 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: NRI hires contract killers to murder kin of his wife's male friend, 10 held
In a major breakthrough, Khanna police have arrested 10 people and uncovered a plot involving contract killers hired to avenge a suspected illicit relationship. The police revealed that Sarabjit Singh alias Sabi, a native of Nawanshahr and currently residing in the US, allegedly paid ₹15 lakh to professional shooters to eliminate the family members of a man he suspected of having an affair with his wife. The accused in the custody of Khanna Police in Ludhiana on Wednesday. (HT Photo) Earlier, the kin of the victim were suspecting their relatives for orchestrating the attack over a land dispute. Senior superintendent of police (SSP), Khanna, Dr Jyoti Yadav Bains, confirmed on Wednesday that the entire conspiracy stemmed from Sarabjit's suspicion that his wife was involved with the brother of a man named Jaspreet Singh, who lives in the US. The target of the attack, Jaspreet, was recently injured in a shooting at his residence in Chak Lohat village, Machhiwara. One of the shooters, Saleem, was injured in an encounter with the police during a weapon recovery operation on Monday night. According to the SSP, Sarabjit Singh hired Tarun Kanojia alias Katia, who then formed a gang of contract killers to execute the attack. The shooters involved in the Chak Lohat firing—Saleem Mohammad, Sanju, Kalu, Gautam Kumar, and an unidentified accomplice—targeted Jaspreet Singh as a part of this planned revenge. Prior to the attack, Katia and another accomplice Vicky conducted a recce of the village. The weapons for the operation were reportedly supplied by Inderpreet Singh and Hardeep Singh alias Deep. In total, the police recovered two .30 bore pistols, four magazines, 41 live cartridges, one .32 bore pistol with a magazine, and an Alto car used by the suspects. The 10 arrested individuals have been identified as Saleem, Tarun Kanojia alias Katia, Vicky alias Saman, Gautam Kumar, Nazia (wife of Saleem), Irfan Muhammad, Anwar Muhammad, Inderpreet Singh, Hardeep Singh alias Deep, and Jatinder Singh alias Sunny. The accused belong to various districts, including Ludhiana, SAS Nagar, Jalandhar, SBS Nagar, and even Ambala. The SSP further disclosed that this group was also responsible for a firing incident in Chamkaur Sahib, where the motive and mastermind remained the same—Sarabjit Singh alias Sabi. Notably, with the arrest of Katia and Vicky, the police have cracked a previous Arms Act case registered at Chamkaur Sahib police station. Additionally, the arrests have helped solve two more shooting incidents reported in Nawanshahr and Rurka. The same accused—Gautam, Katia, and Saleem—were allegedly involved in those cases as well. Police are now focused on tracing and arresting Sarabjit Singh, the main conspirator, and at least four more suspects, some of whom are also believed to be residing abroad. 'This was a premeditated plot funded with significant financial backing, rooted in personal revenge. Our teams are actively working to apprehend the mastermind and his remaining associates,' the SSP added.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Kashmir Bans 25 Books For Whitewashing Terrorism, Twisting History – Here's Full List
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration forfeited 25 books under Section 98 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. The action aims to remove literature linked to secessionist ideology. The decision also addresses books accused of inciting violence within the union territory. A government notification (S.O. 203) in this regard was issued on August 6. The J&K Home Department listed the titles in that notification. The books allegedly spread false narratives, radicalise youth and threaten sovereignty and public order. The legal basis includes Sections 152, 196 and 197 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Section 152 deals with acts endangering unity and integrity. Section 196 addresses promotion of enmity between communities. Section 197 targets material prejudicial to national integration. The banned books include: Human Rights Violations in Kashmir by Piotr Balcerowicz and Agnieszka Kuszewska Kashmiri's Fight for Freedom by Mohd Yosuf Saraf Colonising Kashmir: State‑Building under Indian Occupation by Hafsa Kanjwal Do You Remember Kunan Poshpora? by Essar Batool et al Mujahid ki Azaan edited by Maulana Mohammad Enayatullah Subhani Independent Kashmir by Christopher Snedden Kashmir Politics and Plebiscite by Dr. Abdul Jabbar Gockhami Azadi by Arundhati Roy Resisting Occupation in Kashmir by Haley Duschinski, Mona Bhat, Ather Zia and Cynthia Mahmood Between Democracy and Nation (Gender and Militarization in Kashmir) by Seema Kazi. The government claims that these books distort historical records and calls them glorification of terrorism. It asserts the books cast Indian security forces in a negative light and views them as tools of grievance culture. It fears the books fuel insurgency. Physical copies of the books face forfeiture. Digital and online versions are also banned. Distribution via bookstores and online platforms falls under the order. The authorities cite concerns over digital spread of radical content. This action aligns with broader policy goals. Control of information flow remains a priority. Prevention of separatist sentiment forms another objective. The measure follows the revocation of Article 370 in 2019. The removal of special status made national integrity a greater focus.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
25 CCTV cameras, patrolling men with walkie-talkies to evade arrest: Luck runs out for Surat ‘drug lord'
As many as 25 CCTV cameras in a 500-meter radius, three patrolling men with walkie-talkies on the narrow roads leading to his house and a special room on the ground floor of his three-storey house to see the CCTV feeds. These, according to police, were the measures taken by a Surat-based drug lord to evade police arrest. Shiva alias Shivraj Zala (28) has given police a slip whenever his house was raided by police. His luck, however, ran out on Tuesday night when police arrested Zala from his house, the only tall property surrounded by single-floor pucca houses in the Bhatena area of Surat city. Police also seized Rs 16 lakh, 120 grams of mephedrone (a synthetic drug) and two pistols from his house. After several failed attempts to arrest Zala, police sources said they devised a different strategy to arrest him. First, cops talked to local youths of the Bhatena area and learnt about the security cover placed by Zala. The police team did a recce of the area and found the CCTV cameras in 25 locations. On Tuesday, the Surat Special Operation Group (SOG) got information that Zala was present in his house. Acting on a plan, 25 policemen in plain clothes travelled on 15 bikes to the narrow roads near his house close to the overbridge built on Koili Creek. All six routes leading to Zala's house were screened by police. SOG police inspector A P Chaudhary said, 'We have earlier identified the escape routes of Zala and a group of police personnel were deployed on all six escape routes, including the way to Koli Creek and its bridge so that he could not give us a slip this time.' 'We parked our bikes at different locations around a 100-metre radius of his house. A group of policemen, led by me, reached the narrow lane leading to his house. The main door of his house was open and a police team barged in and overpowered Zala,' Chaudhary said, adding that he was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Arms Act. According to police, Zala was involved in various crimes including murder, attempt-to-murder, robbery and drugs trade. A total of 16 cases had been registered against him. 'Shiva had been known as a messiah in the Bhatena area, where low-income group families reside. He used to help the residents financially for marriage, medical treatment and other needs. The Bhatena area is dominated by people from the minority community. He has good clout among the locals and nobody dared to raise their voice against him,' Chaudhary said. Police sources said that Zala is the youngest son of a tempo driver, Bhupendrasinh Zala, hailing from Dhandhuka taluka in Ahmedabad district. Police said that long ago, his father migrated from Dhandhuka to Surat and settled in the Bhatena area. He has three other sons. Chaudhary added, 'Zala used to buy drugs from a person in Mumbai. Drug peddlers used to come to his place and buy drugs directly. He was selling drugs only to known peddlers and also kept watch of their movements. We are trying to dig out more information from him and identify the peddlers involved with him.'
