Harassed by cops, man ends life  in Doda
* Protestors attack PS, police fire in air
Kuldeep Sharma
THATHRI (DODA), Sep 2: Agitated over the suicide of a TATA Sumo driver following alleged torture by police, people today attacked Police Station Thathri and torched two police vehicles. The police on the other hand opened fire in air and resorted to tear gas shelling and cane charged upon the protestors. The ding dong battle continued till hours together which led to injuries to over two dozen persons including cops.
Demanding registration of case against Police Station Thathri and other cops involved in torture of driver, the locals decided to observe complete strike tomorrow.
It was second time just in last couple of months that a long open battle between police and angry people took place in the erstwhile Doda district. Today Police Station Thathri was attacked by angry people and some cops including SHO were injured while in retaliatory action of police some protesters were also injured.
Reports said that the clash between the police and public occurred when a 19 year-old Mohammad Rafi allegedly committed suicide by jumping in river Chenab after being beaten up by police at Thathri. Rafi, son of Nazir Ahmed Mochi of Nagni Pashalla Tehsil Gundoh district Doda, driver of TATA SUMO bearing registration JK06-2652 (owned by Ajeet Kumar),
The driver was on his way from Jammu to Doda and on reaching near Thathri, he was interrupted by the police party led by Inspector Ravinder Kumar Rakwal SHO Police Station Thathri. He was reportedly harassed by police due to which, he committed suicide by jumping into river Chenab.
The eye witnesses said that he was slapped by the cops in full public view and was then shifted to Police Station Thathri, where he was abused and beaten up. Succumbing to social stigma, he committed suicide by jumping in river Chenab from Thathri bridge. The news spread in the area like wild fire and people from Thathri town and its adjoining areas reached the spot. They instantly started the search of driver on the bank of river Chenab, but could not trace him.
As soon as the relatives and friends reached there, they went to Police Station Thathri where they entered in a clash with the police personnel. The people went on rampage and restored to heavy stone pelting at Police Station, besides putting the two official vehicles of police on fire. They damaged the police station and injured several cops including SHO Police Station Thathri.
Police, however, resorted to cane charge and lobbed tear shells towards the mob. The cops also fired several shots in air.
The reinforcement of police, which moved from Doda was interrupted by another public mob near Power Station Thathri for about one-and-a-half kilometer away from Police Station. The senior officers including SSP Doda Parbhat Singh along with Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) Doda rushed to the spot to pacify the protestors and control the situation. However, after hot deliberations and on the intervention of some elders of the society, the people shun the agitational mode and initiated talks with the police. They were demanding action against erring SHO and cops of Police Station Thathri, who abetted the deceased to take such an extreme step.
Deputy Commissioner Doda Farooq Ahmed, when contacted, said that the said driver was a habitual offender of Motor Vehicle Act and was indulging in overloading. Police intercepted his vehicle and shifted him to police station where after issuing warning, he was released.
The DC claimed that as per initial reports, the people instigated him soon after his release and he jumped into Chenab. He denied any atrocities by police and added that enquiry would be initiated in the whole episode and in case any cop would be found guilty, action would be taken against him forthwith.
Ahmed informed that SSP Doda Parbhat Singh and Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) Doda rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. He regretted that attack on Police Station by people was not a democratic way to lodge protest and he described it illegal.
DC informed that people were demanding compensation but there is no provision of compensation for such cases and however, Rs 10, 000 has been released on humanitarian grounds for next of the kin of the driver.
The deceased driver is survived by his wife Shaheena Begum and 1 ½ years old son Adil Hussain.
Narrating her tale of woes, Sharifa Begum, aunt of driver said that Mohammad Rafi had made a telephone call to his wife at noon and told her that he had bought some sweets from Kud and will be at home for Iftar. But the fate had something else stored for her as she was unaware that this was the last chat with her husband.
Sharifa Begum, wife of Hassam Din, Salma daughter of Mohammad Azad and Rubina Begum, wife of Mohammad Ashraf were also injured in the melee.
Some political leaders also reached on spot and held meetings with administration and police officers at Dak Banglow in which demand for taking action against accused police officer and officials was raised. The negotiations were on when reports last came in.
Meanwhile, the people of Thathri decided to observe complete shut down in Thathri area tomorrow as a mark of protest. Being Jumait-ul-Vida, a huge gathering of people are expected and protest might again be lodged by the people after Friday prayers, owing to which the police has made additional deployment.
It may be recalled that in a similar incident at Paddar (Kishtwar), two local girls, who were picked by the cops of Police Station Gulabgarh Paddar alongwith a boy identified as Pardeep Kumar son of Amar Chand of Gulabgarh Paddar in the month of July from Maharaja Gulab Singh Qilla (Fort) Gulabgarh and subjected to harassment in Police Station, allegedly committed suicide by jumping in River Chenab as they too could not bear the harassment and insult of the police.
On this the people at Gulabgarh Paddar too went on rampage and damaged the police station Paddar and made hostage some cops till the higher authorities including Inspector General of Police Jammu zone, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu and other senior officers reached, intervened and agreed to register the FIR against then SHO Police Station Gulabgarh Paddar Inspector Farooq Ahmad Wani. Subsequently FIR was lodged against SHO and he was attached to DPL Kishtwar.
The enquiry of case was handed over to DySP Mohan Lal Thakur, which is still in progress. An immediate relief of Rs 25,000 was released in favour of next of kin of the missing girls by the administration.