Cops register murder case after relatives protest

Una, December 9

Kin of accident victim Rukam Deen (50), a resident of Nakroh village in Amb Subdivision, on Saturday staged a protest at the district headquarters in front of the mini-secretariat, alleging that the case, registered by the police as an accident, was actually a planned murder.

Una SP Devakar Sharma said on December 2, Rukam Deen was reportedly hit by an unidentified vehicle near his house and the unconscious victim was admitted to the Una district hospital, from where he was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. He said a hit-and-run case against an unknown driver amounting to culpable homicide, not with the intention of killing was registered. On Friday, Rukam Deen died at the PGI. Complainant Salaam Deen, son-in-law of the victim, alleged that on the day of the incident, Rukam Deen had gone to the house of his nephew Habib, where an altercation reportedly took place between the two.

Rukam Deen’s wife Jayana Beevi said Sultan Ali, another relative of accused Habib, was also present at the site and the two first seriously injured Rukam Deen and later threw him on the road. She said the two then drove their car over his body to make it appear as an accident. She said Sultan Ali, who was serving in the paramilitary force, has returned to his place of posting. The SP said a case of murder had been registered and Habib had been taken into custody. He said the accused was sent to five-day police remand. — OC