Police begins proper probe after body of a missing person found in J&K’s Kupwara

Srinagar: A Day after the body of a missing person, who was picked by the Army in December last year, was found in Kupwara district, J&K police have started proper investigation to ascertain all facts and circumstances leading to his death.

The development comes on a day when former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said ” such incidents have been normalized” in the absence of any accountability after the abrogation of Article 370.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Kupwara Youghal Manhas said the Police has started proper investigation in the case to ascertain all facts and circumstances leading to the death of Abdul Rasheed Dar, a resident of Kunan Kupwara, who was missing since December.

The official said on March 1, Police Station Trehgam received information that a body was in the forest area of Zurhama-PK Gali. Accordingly, the Police party rushed to the spot and recovered the body which was later identified to be of Dar, against whom a missing report was lodged.

Police said the family members of Dar had alleged that on December 15, 2022 he was taken by some army personnel from his house at Kunan.

“However, at the same time, the army had revealed that although he was taken for some questioning and subsequent identification of a particular place in the forest of Laderwan-Zurhama area, but he jumped over and fled taking advantage of the darkness and topography,” the police officer said.

“The Army further informed that they have launched a search to trace him and requested local police to further take necessary action as per law,” police said

Police said a proper missing report was lodged in the Police Station Trehgam and efforts to trace him were on.

“During the course of investigation besides other procedural formalities, post mortem was also conducted through a designated team of doctors and after conducting medico legal formalities the dead body was handed over to his legal heirs for last rites,” police said.

Instant protests erupted in Kunan on Wednesday after the body was found. The protesters demanded justice and investigation into Dar’s disappearance from Army’s custody.

UNI