Custodial Death of Sajad Ahmad Dar
Sajad Ahmad Dar (22 Years) S/O: Ghulam Nabi Dar R/O: Sangrama Sopore died on March 22, 2012, in Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Srinagar. Sajad was detained on charges of assisting armed fighters. He was booked under the draconian Public Safety Act and was lodged in District Jail Kupwara when he died.
Sajad worked as a ‘generator-operator’ with the State owned BSNL when he was picked up in December 2011 by State Police’s counter-insurgency wing, Special Operations Group, on charges of ‘assisting militants’, a charge denied by his family. Immediately afterwards, the State Police invoked the Public Safety Act (PSA) against him, a draconian legislation which gives police right to detain without trial for two years.
Sajad was first arrested in November 2011 by Special Operations Group (SoG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police. After three days, he was left in half-dead condition. It took more than 15 days for him to recover. After his condition became stable, he was again detained by the SOG men and kept in Police Station Sopore for more than 20 days.Then he was taken to sub-jail Baramulla and later shifted to district jail Kupwara. Sajad’s condition worsened in the district jail due to alleged negligence of the staff. He was not provided requisite medical aid resulting in deterioration of his health. The court had directed police to conduct his proper medical check-up, but the jail staff did not pay any heed to it. His condition worsened with every passing day.
On the intervening night of March 21 and March 22, 2012, his condition deteriorated in District Jail Kupwara. Jail authorities didn't paid any attention till next morning and on the morning of March 22, 2012, he was shifted to a local hospital, where from he was referred to SKIMS Srinagar.
He died a few hours after he was admitted in SKIMS.Till late evening his body was not handed over to the family for performing last rites. Forces were deployed in his native town Sopore as the tension gripped as soon as the news of his death spread. Protests broke out in various parts of north Kashmir over his death. His post-mortem was conducted in Rainawari Hospital.
Following the protests, the Government ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death and District Magistrate, Kupwara, had appointed Additional District Magistrate, Kupwara as Inquiry Officer to probe Sajad’s death.
The inquiry had indicted an officiating Jail Superintendent Ghulam Nabi Dar of district jail Kupwara for being negligent in providing the timely medical care to Dar, which results in his death.
On October 11, 2012 Jammu and Kashmir High Court has asked the government to file an affidavit stating as to what “legal action” it is proposing to take against an Assistant Jail Superintendent Ghulam Nabi Dar. Justice Verinder Singh passed the direction after hearing the counsel for the victim family, Mian Qayoom, and Additional Advocate General S A Naik representing the state in the case.
A year after this custodial death, Assistant Jail Superintendent Ghulam Nabi Dar was promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendent.
 |
| Sajad Ahmad Dar |
Sajad worked as a ‘generator-operator’ with the State owned BSNL when he was picked up in December 2011 by State Police’s counter-insurgency wing, Special Operations Group, on charges of ‘assisting militants’, a charge denied by his family. Immediately afterwards, the State Police invoked the Public Safety Act (PSA) against him, a draconian legislation which gives police right to detain without trial for two years.
Sajad was first arrested in November 2011 by Special Operations Group (SoG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police. After three days, he was left in half-dead condition. It took more than 15 days for him to recover. After his condition became stable, he was again detained by the SOG men and kept in Police Station Sopore for more than 20 days.Then he was taken to sub-jail Baramulla and later shifted to district jail Kupwara. Sajad’s condition worsened in the district jail due to alleged negligence of the staff. He was not provided requisite medical aid resulting in deterioration of his health. The court had directed police to conduct his proper medical check-up, but the jail staff did not pay any heed to it. His condition worsened with every passing day.
On the intervening night of March 21 and March 22, 2012, his condition deteriorated in District Jail Kupwara. Jail authorities didn't paid any attention till next morning and on the morning of March 22, 2012, he was shifted to a local hospital, where from he was referred to SKIMS Srinagar.
He died a few hours after he was admitted in SKIMS.Till late evening his body was not handed over to the family for performing last rites. Forces were deployed in his native town Sopore as the tension gripped as soon as the news of his death spread. Protests broke out in various parts of north Kashmir over his death. His post-mortem was conducted in Rainawari Hospital.
Following the protests, the Government ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death and District Magistrate, Kupwara, had appointed Additional District Magistrate, Kupwara as Inquiry Officer to probe Sajad’s death.
The inquiry had indicted an officiating Jail Superintendent Ghulam Nabi Dar of district jail Kupwara for being negligent in providing the timely medical care to Dar, which results in his death.
On October 11, 2012 Jammu and Kashmir High Court has asked the government to file an affidavit stating as to what “legal action” it is proposing to take against an Assistant Jail Superintendent Ghulam Nabi Dar. Justice Verinder Singh passed the direction after hearing the counsel for the victim family, Mian Qayoom, and Additional Advocate General S A Naik representing the state in the case.
A year after this custodial death, Assistant Jail Superintendent Ghulam Nabi Dar was promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendent.
No comments: