Custody death: Two J&K cops suspended

JAMMU: Two policemen were suspended after a man allegedly died under mysterious circumstances in a police lockup in J&K’s Kathua district, officials said on Tuesday.

The deceased was identified as Sonu Kumar (42) of Sakta Chak in Kathua. His family alleged that it was a custodial death as Sonu was physically fit when they met him sometime prior to his death in the police post. They demanded an inquiry into his mysterious death.

Kathua SSP Shivdeep Singh Jamwal said Sonu was arrested on Saturday (February 4) at an inter-state naka after cops recovered 7g heroin from his possession in Kathua’s Goond area and an FIR under NDPS Act was registered against him, following which he was sent to a police lockup in Nagari post. On Monday evening, he hanged himself there with a blanket.

The SSP said two cops on duty were suspended soon after the death and the police post in-charge was sent to the District Police Lines in Kathua. “A magisterial probe is on in this regard,” he added.