Teenager commits suicide hours after being detained by Army in Pulwama

Srinagar: The death of the teenager boy who committed suicide in south Kashmir’s volatile Pulwama district has come under the scanner with the family alleging that the boy was "detained and beaten” during the day by army and was asked to report to army camp the next day. 

Police has started inquest proceedings into the “suspicious death”, while the Army has denied the allegations as baseless.

According to the family of the 15-year-old Yawar Ahmed Bhat, a resident of Chandgam Pulwama, he consumed poison on the night of September 17.

“He told me that he was beaten by army and his identity card was also taken. He was asked to report to the army camp during the day and that evening he did not have even meals,” his elder sister told reporters on Saturday.

His cousin Rayees Ahmad said, Yawar was asked to report to the army camp in Tahab area next day. “It was because of the fear that he may be tortured at the camp that he took this step,” he said.

Medical records of Pulwama hospital showed that he was brought to the district hospital with alleged rat poison. The boy was later shifted to Mahraja Hari Singh hospital in Srinagar where he breathed his last on Thursday evening . 

Locals in the area said that there was a grenade attack in the area on Monday night and the next day army men in the area snatched the card of several youth and they were asked to report to the camp.

Superintendent of Police, Pulwama Chandan Kohli said that they have started proceedings under 174 CrPC   

“I took up the issue with army and they have denied that they have done anything wrong,” he said.

 Army has termed the allegation is completely baseless .

“ Nothing of this sort has happened and the boy was not detained or tortured in any manner,” Army said.