Jammu & Kashmir

Family alleges custodial death of kin jailed in drug peddling case in Kathua

Police Station Kathua.[FIle Photo]

Kathua: Two Jammu and Kashmir police personnel were suspended after a man, arrested in drug peddling case, was found dead in police custody at Police Post (PP) Nagri in Kathua district on Monday evening.

The family members claimed that it was a custodial death as the deceased Sonu Kumar, 42, son of Jagdish Chander of Sakta Chak, was physically fit when they met him some time prior to his death in the Police Post, Daily Excelsior reported.

It was purely a custodial death as there was no sign of any physically illness when the family members met him in the Police Post Nagri during the day, the deceased’s nephew Rahul Kumar told the newspaper.

He was arrested on February 4 and seven grams of heroin (Chitta) like narcotics was recovered from his possession. A case FIR No. 40/2023 U/S 8/21/22 NDPS Act was registered at PS Kathua against him.

Quoting SSP Kathua, Shivdeep Singh Jamwal, the report said that Sonu committed suicide. The SSP said that on Monday evening Sonu hanged himself with the strip of his blanket along the door.

The report quoting the police officer further said that two cops have been suspended in this regard and inquiry is pending.

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