Srinagar: Justice Bedi Commission of Inquiry (COI) probing the custodial death of National Conference worker Syed Mohammad Yousuf on Thursday began its probe and sought statements from general public in the interest of proceedings.

The Commission asked the people to submit any knowledge of the facts of the case in the form of an affidavit and set January 27 as the last date.
Syed Mohammad Yousuf, an NC worker from south Kashmir`s Anantnag district, died allegedly in police custody on September 29 after two fellow party workers had accused him of taking Rs 1.18 crore from them for getting them berths in the Legislative Council.
The state government had on November 18 appointed retired Supreme Court judge H S Bedi as head of the one-man commission to probe the death of 61-year-old Yousuf in police custody. The Commission has been asked to complete its probe within six weeks. Justice Bedi after assuming charge suspended proceedings of the Commission in view of a petition being heard by the apex court, seeking CBI probe into the incident.
The death of Yousuf had triggered a political controversy in Jammu and Kashmir wherein Chief Minister Omar Abdullah offered to appear before a judicial probe after Opposition PDP levelled allegations against him. PTI