Custodial killing of civilian triggers protests in Srinagar

Srinagar, May 19 (IANS) A Jammu and Kashmir police officer was suspended Tuesday following widespread protests over his alleged involvement in the custodial death of a man a day earlier.

Inspector Khurshid of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the police Monday allegedly arrested Manzoor Ahmed Beg, 40, a car dealer from Aloochi Bagh in Srinagar for unknown reasons, residents of the area said.

In the afternoon, Beg was taken in critical condition to a private nursing home, where attending doctors referred him to a government hospital.

Doctors at the government hospital declared him brought dead, and the body was taken away by the police.

Angry residents of the area took to the streets as the news of the alleged custodial death spread.

The protesters pelted stones at vehicles disrupting traffic and clashed with police and paramilitary forces in parts of the city.

The administration has ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incident.