The incident triggered massive protests and clashes in Awantipore
Srinagar: A teacher who was arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir police in connection with a terror case died in custody. The incident has triggered protests in many parts of the state. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered to find out the cause and circumstances leading to his death.
Rizwan Asad, a resident of Awantipore, Pulwama was a terror suspect, the police said. He was a arrested from his house. He died during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, the police added.
The incident triggered massive protests and clashes in Awantipore as hundreds of students took to streets demanding action against those responsible for his death.
The family of the victim said Rizwan Asad had no links with any terror group and they were being harassed just because they are supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami, an organisation banned by the government last month.
Reacting to the incident, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has demanded an exemplary punishment for the "killers" of the man.
"I had hoped custodial deaths were a thing of our dark past. This is an unacceptable development and must be investigated in a transparent, time bound manner. Exemplary punishment must be handed out to the killers of this young man," he tweeted.
PDP leader Naeem Akhtar has also asked Governor Satya Pal Malik's administration to come clean on the incident.
"Disturbing reports of custodial death of youth from Awantipora in Srinagar's Cargo Camp. As per media he was picked up by NIA few days ago and was lodged in CARGO camp of (SOG). @jandkgovernor administration should come clean on this," Mr Akhtar, a former minister, wrote on Twitter.
The NIA, however, denied having arrested or questioning Rizwan Asad.