NC worker death: Under attack,Omar says will face probe

“I will answer whatever questions are posed to me and as a result of the judicial commission,the facts will speak for themselves. All the lies will be shown for what they are,” Omar said,addressing a press conference.

Principal Secretary,Home,B R Sharma declared at another press conference that as per a hospital death certificate,Yousuf had died of “cardio-respiratory arrest”. “The board of doctors in their preliminary postmortem report also certified that no external injuries were found on the deceased. X-rays showed no abnormality,” he said,adding they would wait for the forensic lab report to give a final opinion.

A 61-year-old retired teacher,Yousuf had allegedly taken money from two NC leaders on the promise of getting them a ministership and a legislative council seat through Union minister Farooq Abdullah. Brought to Omar’s residence and handed over to the Crime Branch by the CM,he died in custody. Yousuf’s family has alleged he was killed as he knew “too many secrets”.

“Without the record of postmortem,how it is possible for some sections of political leadership of the state or some sections of media to say that he (Yousuf) was tortured… If anyway these allegations of torture are substantiated by the preliminary or final postmortem report,those responsible for it would be made accountable,” Omar said,threatening a defamation suit against those accusing him of murder.

However,Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehooba Mufti cited “eyewitness” Abdulah Salam Reshi to seek Omar’s resignation,saying the finger of suspicion over Yousuf’s death was “pointing towards the CM,his MoS Home and Farooq Abdullah”. “He (Yousuf) was taken to a room (in the CM residence) by the IG,Crime,and the CM’s personal security officer,after which his health deteriorated,” Mufti said,claiming Reshi — one of the NC leaders who said Yousuf took money from him — had told them this.

The CM’s press conference followed an Assembly session where a fan was thrown,a table overturned and Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone was himself caught using the choicest words against a PDP legislator,Iftikhar Ansari,even as Omar sat in stony silence.

Lone didn’t spare Ansari’s father,mother and daughter either. “I’m your daamaad (son-in-law),” he repeatedly told Ansari.

Later in the day,expressing regret,Lone called Ansari a “friend” and an “elder”. J&K Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather requested the media not to show the proceedings,saying it will “harm the credibility” of the House.

However,the episode may blow up,with Shiite Muslims taking to the streets against the “derogatory” comments made against Ansari,one of the most revered religious leaders of his community. Defending himself and Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani,Omar accused “some sections of media” and “some sections of political leadership” of “twisting and distorting” facts. He also refused to take any questions,saying “facts should be allowed to speak for themselves”.

“Instead of appreciating the fact that I suo motu took action against serious allegations of corruption against an individual who was associated with the National Conference,it has somehow been suggested that I or colleagues of mine have been involved in criminal activity to the extent that several supposedly responsible political leaders have gone so far as to suggest that I could possibly be involved in a case of murder,” the CM said.

“Outside the Assembly,the president of the single largest opposition party levelled allegations against my person,against Farooq Abdullah. I will not respond to these allegations,” he said. “I am in touch with my lawyers. My lawyers will file a defamation suit.”