Magisterial inquiry, suspensions after death of Gujjar youth in ‘police firing' outside Jammu

Indian Express

2 days ago

The Jammu district administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death of a Gujjar youth in an alleged police firing on the outskirts of Jammu city. Simultaneously, the police have suspended two officers and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the incident.
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.