Custodial killing of a private schoolteacher, picked up by the police in pursuance of a terror case investigation few days ago, sparked off fresh protests in Awantipora area of South Kashmir's Pulwama district on Tuesday soon after news of his death spread like wild fire in the area.
Large number of local residents took to streets and raised 'provocative' slogans.
To contain public anger, a magisterial probe was announced in addition to separate police investigation in the case.
Clashes, however, continued in the Awantipora town between the security forces and stone-throwing youths for several hours.
In a statement, police spokesman said, "the school teacher identified as Rizwan Asad Pandit, was in police custody in pursuance of terror case investigation. The said person died in police custody. In this matter while following the procedure laid down in section 176 of CrPC a magisterial enquiry is underway. Separately, police investigation has also been initiated in the jurisdictional area of incident".
Meanwhile, local reports and family members of the deceased school teacher claimed local police officers had picked Rizwan Pandit from his house few days ago.They said, Tuesday morning when they went to see him in the police station they came to know about his custodial death.
Strongly condemning the incident several Kashmir based political parties, including the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, People's Conference, the CPI-M, Congress, Awami Attehad Party and others have demanded exemplary punishment to those found guilty in the custodial death of the youth.
The Separatist conglomerate, Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik have called for a Valley-wide protest shutdown on Wednesday against the custodial death.
Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, district magistrate Srinagar has said that the magisterial inquiry is being held by additional deputy commissioner Srinagar who has already visited the spot where the youth was held in custody.
The district magistrate has said the inquiry would be completed soon and its findings will be made public.