Probe into custodial death to be transparent: JK police chief

Assuring a transparent probe into the custodial death of National Conference worker Syed Muhmmad Yusuf Shah, Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda has said the state authorities would soon deliver of fair probe into the case.

Talking to reporters in Srinagar, Khoda said, "As the investigation proceeds all that is required to be done as per the criminal procedure court that will be done. The investigation would be quite transparent and visible nothing would be hidden and everything would be brought out very truly and faithfully, be assured of it."

Meanwhile, the state Home Secretary B.R Sharma said that a judicial enquiry has been requested into the matter.

"In order to allay all apprehensions and to ensure an impartial investigation the state government has requested the honourable chief justice of the JK high court to nominate a sitting judge of the honourable high court to conduct a judicial enquiry into the immediate circumstances leading to the death of Syed Mohammed Yusuf," said Sharma.

He further informed about the cause of death as found during the medical investigation teams.

"As per the death certificate issued by the hospital the apparent cause of death is cardio respiratory arrest. The board of doctors in their preliminary post mortem report have also certified that no external injuries were found on the deceased, X-Rays of the dead body show no abnormality, the timing of the death in the report has been shown as less than 12 hours prior to the completion of the post mortem and handing over of the dead body at 7.20 pm on September 30. The final opinion would be available only after the report of the forensic science lab report," said Sharma.

Yusuf died allegedly in police custody after two fellow party workers had accused him of taking Rs 1.18 crore from them for getting them berths in the Legislative Council.

According to the government version, the accused was summoned to the camp office of the Chief Minister where he was confronted with the allegation about taking money.

Yusuf had admitted to taking money after which he was handed over to IGP Crime Branch for further investigations.