Legislators demand probe into youth’s death in south Kashmir’s Kulgam, allege police highhandedness

Jammu, Mar 17: Legislators on Monday raised concerns over the alleged highhandedness of the police toward the family of a Gujjar youth, whose body was recovered from Vaishow Nallah in south Kashmir's Kulgam district.

As soon as the House convened, lawmakers stood up and demanded an inquiry into the incident.

The body of Showkat Ahmad, son of Mohammad Sadiq Bajad, a resident of Chata Doonda, Rajouri, was recovered on Sunday. Showkat had gone missing last month along with two others.

On Sunday, the deceased youth’s family staged a protest in Qazigund along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, demanding an investigation. A video of the protest circulating online shows the police using force against the demonstrators.

National Conference legislator Nazir Ahmad Gurezi called for action against the police, a demand echoed by other legislators, including Mehar Ali and Choudhary Akram.

PDP legislator Waheed Parra also raised concern over the mysterious disappearance of Gujjar youth and demanded an enquiry.

Last month, three youths — Riyaz Ahmad Bajad, his younger brother Showkat Ahmad Bajad, and a third person, Mukhtar Ahmad—went missing from Qazigund.

Their relatives have been searching for them for the past month and had lodged a missing report at the local police station.

The body of another youth Riyaz was found three days ago from the same nallah. All three hailed from Rajouri and were working as laborers in Qazigund.

The trio left for Ashmuji, Kulgam on February 13, to attend a function in a relative’s house. However, they went missing before reaching their destination. Their phones have remained switched off since their disappearance.