Srinagar: A day after police filed two cases, one for attempt to murder and another for adduction with an intention to kill, against it, army on Saturday ordered an inquiry into the alleged beating of a youth and disappearance of another one couple of days ago in Kupwara district of north Kashmir.
“We have initiated an inquiry. The matter is under investigation and action will be taken accordingly,” a defence ministry spokesman said here.
Locals staged protest for the second consecutive day, demanding whereabouts of Manzoor Ahmad Khan who was allegedly taken into custody by Army along with Nasrullah Khan, the youth released in critical condition by Army’s 27 RR. Whereabouts of Mazoor are still unknown.
Police has registered two separate FIRs—62/2017 under RPC sections of 307 (attempt to murder), 342(wrong confinement), 323 (voluntary causing hurt) and 63/2017 under sections of 342 and 364 (kidnapping and abducting in order to murder)RPC in police station Lalpora.
Villagers of Kakarpati village of Devar Lolab alleged that army soldiers from 27 RR picked up the two local youths, both shepherds, from forest area of Trimukh Lolab which is connected to Bandipora district.
“They were called by Bandipora based 27 RR of army for some questioning but were than beaten ruthlessly,” the locals alleged.
While Nasrullah was released in critical condition, the fate of Manzoor is not known, they said and expressed concern about his well-being.
Nasrullah was admitted at a local hospital for treatment but the doctors referred him to SKIMS hospital here, they said. Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister Abdul Haq Khan, who is also a relative of Manzoor, visited Lolab on Saturday and assured the protesting people that the missing youth will be traced in couple of days. The minister also assured action against those found involved even as he requested people not to take law into their hands and let police to unearth facts.