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Death of youth sparks violent protests

By Luv Puri

Bantalab (Jammu) Jan. 17. Tension prevailed in the Bantalab area, on the outskirts of Jammu, after people staged a violent protest against the death of a youth on Thursday morning, allegedly due to torture by police.

Sources said Rajesh Singh Manhas was picked up by police on charges of stealing a goat on a complaint by a panchayat functionary. Police allegedly demanded a bribe when his father approached them for his release. After his release, Rajesh's condition deteriorated and he was admitted to hospital where he died on Thursday.

On learning about the incident, people of the area took to the streets and damaged and burnt several vehicles on Thursday. Emotions ran high as a large number of villagers marched towards the police post, where the youth was detained, and blocked the National Highway. They pelted the post with stones and tried to enter it. Police fired in the air and locked themselves in a room. As the street battle between the police and the villagers was on, the Cabinet Minister, Mula Ram, and other senior officials arrived at the spot. A magisterial enquiry has been ordered into the incident.

The State unit of the PUCL has demanded that the State Government refer two cases of custodial deaths in a day in the Jammu region — one of Rajesh Singh at Chinore police station and the other of Abdul Rashid at Chachal village of Banihal — to the National Human Rights Commission. It sought stringent punishment to the guilty.

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