Sopore custodial death: 2 policemen arrested

Two policemen were arrested on Saturday evening for their alleged involvement in the custodial death of 27-year-old youth Nazim Rashid Shalla in north Kashmir's Sopore town.

A senior police officer confirmed that two cops of the special operations group were taken into custody.

"The Special Investigation Team, which is being supervised by deputy inspector general of police of north Kashmir, arrested two selection grade constables, Nisar Ahmad and Mohammad Abass under section 302 RPC", a police spokesman said.

Police sources said a sub-inspector of the SOG is also likely to be detained for his alleged involvement in the custodial death.

Nazim was picked up by the SOG along with three other youths for questioning and died hours later while in police custody Sunday last.

The sub-divisional magistrate Sopore, Mohammad Ahsan Mir is heading the magisterial probe ordered by the state government. The government has already ordered a transfer of Sopore district police chief Altaf Khan and suspended three cops and attached a deputy police superintendent in the case.

The custodial death has triggered tension across the Valley resulting in clashes between security force and protestors. Wednesday saw a shutdown in the region, the call for which was given by hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.