Kupwara youth’s death: Awaiting post-mortem report: Police

Srinagar, Mar 02: A day after the dead body of Abdul Rashid Dar of Kupwara was recovered from the forest, Police on Thursday stated that they are awaiting postmortem report and investigation is underway in the case.
On Dec 15, 2022, Dar was taken by some army personnel from his house at Kunan. However, the army revealed that he was taken for some questioning and later fled while aiding forces to the hideout.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara Yougal Manhas told Rising Kashmir that post mortem of Dar’s body was conducted through a designated team of doctors and police is awaiting its reports.
“Once reports will come, we can get some clues to ascertain the cause of death. After that investigations can be started in the matter,” he said.
A senior doctor at Sub-District Hospital Kupwara said that team of four doctors from the hospital conducted a postmortem of Abdul Rashid Dar on Wednesday. Samples were immediately dispatched to a forensic laboratory for further investigation, he said.
“Final opinion regarding the case can be shared once postmortem reports from the forensic lab,” he said, adding that it can sometimes take 7-15 days.
Earlier PRO (Defence) Srinagar, Col Emron Musavi told Rising Kashmir that the issue is being pursued. We are assisting the Police in the case, he said.
On Wednesday after more than two months the body of Abdul Rashid Dar of Kupwara, who went missing from Army custody, was found at Zurhama -PK Gali forest area.
Dar’s family alleged that their house was raided by the Army party on December 15 in which their son of Abdul Rashid Dar was taken for questioning.
Hilal Ahmad Dar told Rising Kashmir that his brother was picked up by Army on December 15th when the family was having dinner at home.
“They detained him and assured us that after questioning he (Rashid) will be released soon. My brother was innocent and had no links with any militant outfit. We demand nothing except an impartial probe in the case,” he said.
The family members urged the LG administration to investigate the matter and put the culprits behind the bars.
Dar drove a load carriage vehicle and did menial jobs to support his ailing parents and sister. He was buried in the local graveyard and hundreds of people participated in the funeral prayers.
A police official said Police Station Trehgam received information on Wednesday that one dead body is laying in the forest area of Zurhama-PK Gali.
Accordingly, the Police party rushed to the spot and recovered the dead body which was later on identified to be of Abdul Rashid Dar son of Mohammad Sadeeq Dar resident of Kunan Poshpora against whom a missing report was lodged in P/S Trehgam.
“Pertinently, the family members of the deceased had alleged that on 15th Dec, 2022 that Dar was taken by some army personnel from his house at Kunan,” he said.
The police official said, however, at the same time, the army also had revealed that although he was taken for some questioning.
“Later for identification of a particular place in the forest of the Laderwan-Zurhama area, Dar had jumped over and fled taking advantage of the darkness and topography,” he said
The police official said that Army further informed that they had launched a search to trace the said person and requested local police to further take the necessary action as per law.
“In the given circumstances, a proper missing report was lodged in the concerned Police Station and efforts to trace Dar were on,” he said.
The police official said during the course of investigation besides other procedural formalities, Post mortem was also got conducted through a designated team of doctors.
“After conducting medico-legal formalities the dead body was handed over to his legal heirs for last rites,” he said.
The police official said they have started a proper investigation into the case to ascertain all facts and circumstances leading to his death. “Further details shall follow with the progress of the investigations,” he said.