Police not rule out murder, MLC's son dies under suspicious circumstances

Sources told NAK that the police the victim with multiple injuries was shifted to the ASCOMS Hospital Sidhra by his three friends who were accompanying him and the doctors pronounced him as brought dead.

The deceased has been identified as Murtaza Sawar, son of Congress MLC Lal Mohammad Sawar resident of Mendhar at present Gujjar Nagar Jammu.

Police sources said that he was final year Engineering (BTech) student of Mahant Bachitar Singh College. Yesterday morning he long with his three friends went for a picnic to Surinsar area. While returning in the evening, the victim fell down into Nallah under suspicious circumstances at and died on the spot.

The body after autopsy was handed over to the family members this morning for lat rites. The body was shifted to the native village of MLC in Mendhar Tehsil of district Poonch.

Police sources said that three friends of the deceased identified as Salman Mehmood Bhatti, Azhar Tak and Kamran all residents of Gujjar Nagar were detained by the police for questioning.

"During interrogation, the youth revealed that Murtaza came out of the Maruti car bearing registration number JK02W-6801 in which they were returning from the picnic at Urfan Morh to pas urine. He lost his balance and fell down into Nallah", police sources told NAK.

The bother of the victim on the other hand alleged that Murtaza has been murder by his friends by offering him poisonous substance and pushing him into Nallah. The victim was bleeding profusely and he was vomiting when shifted to the Batra Hospital.

Senior police officer when contacted said that inquest proceedings under section 174 CrPC have been initiated in the case. He, however, not ruled out possibility of murder behind saying that the postmortem report is still awaited.

Confirming detention of three youth who were accompanying the victim, he said that they were detained simply for questioning.

Police sources avowed that In-charge Police Post GMC SI Suresh Gautam and Munshi Kabir Wani were placed under suspension by the IGP Jammu for dereliction in duty. The IGP K Rajindra and SSP Manohar Singh visited hospital where they came to know that the officials not informed the PCR in right time as they were unaware bout the shifting of the body to the GMC mortuary.

Meanwhile reports from Mendhar said that joint condolence meeting was held by different organizations and Associations at Mendhar today. The meeting among others was held by All Engineer Associations Mendhar, Teachers Association Mendhar, Young Journalist Association Mendhar, Taxi Union Mendhar, Transport (Bus) Union Mendhar, Chemist Association and Beopar Mandal Mendhar.

The members observed two minutes silence and prayed for the peace of the departed soul.

Those who attend the condolence meeting included Kabir Ahmed Choudhary, Prof Ejaz Ahmed Choudhary, Riaz Choudhary, MS Nazki, Vikram Bhasin, Habib Ullah Khan, Javed Iqbal Khan, Kala Sawhney, Mohammad Shaqoor Khan and Rajesh Gupta.

The market remain closed throughout the day and huge rush of mourners was witnessed at the MLC's house.

Former MP Choudhary Mohammad Aslam, PDP leader Nissar Ahmed Khan and Wasim Ahmed Khan and Congress leader Zaffar Ullah Azad visited the MLC's house.(NAK)