38-year-old man dies in lockup in Jammu and Kashmir, family alleges police torture, 2 cops suspended

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday suspended two cops after a 38-year-old man allegedly died under mysterious circumstances in a lockup in Kathua district. The deceased’s family has alleged that he was tortured in custody.

Kathua Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shivdeep Jamwal said that two cops have been suspended and the post in charge has been attached to police lines in this matter.

Reportedly, the deceased has been identified as Sonu Kumar, who was arrested by the Kathua police on Saturday after they recovered 7 grams of heroin from his possession in the Goond area of ​​Kathua. He was later sent to a police lockup at Nagari Post on Saturday.

The officials said Kumar, a street food vendor, died under mysterious circumstances in the lockup on Monday night. His body has been sent to the district’s government medical college (GMC) for postmortem.

Kumar’s nephew, Rahul, said the former was fit and fine when he met him on Sunday evening. He alleged that Kumar died due to torture in police custody. Kumar’s wife has demanded justice and punishment for those responsible for her husband’s death.

SSP said a magisterial probe has been ordered in this connection.

Sonu Kumar was the sole breadwinner in the family. He is survived by his wife and three children.