Srinagar: A magisterial inquiry into the death of a National Conference activist Haji Syed Yusuf while in police custody has begun amid a raging controversy into which state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been dragged.
Additional District Magistrate Mohammed Akbar had begun the inquiry into the death of Yusuf on September 30 itself as it is mandatory under Section 176 Criminal Procedure Code to hold a magisterial inquiry into any death in police custody. Official sources said a final autopsy report of Yusuf was expected to be received soon from the Principal of Government Medical College which was conducting other tests including of viscera.
Preliminary postmortem report had said that Yusuf had suffered cardio-respiratory arrest and that he had no external injuries to suggest any torture as claimed by the family.
The board of doctors in their preliminary postmortem report have certified that no external injuries were found on the body of deceased. This report had been submitted to Akbar, who would be giving his opinion after receiving the final postmortem report.
The magisterial inquiry may shape the future course of action to decide whether the death was natural or whether it needed any further probe, the sources said. All relevant documents including the videography of postmortem had been submitted to the Magistrate including the ECG report conducted on Yusuf at 8.23 pm on September 29.
Omar has also ordered a judicial inquiry by a sitting Judge if the High Court and he has said that all facts will be placed before it.
The Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police registered an FIR under Section 420 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) at 10 pm on September 29.
PTI