In a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the state police to submit a Compact Disc (CD) record in connection with the alleged custodial torture of a 25-year-old youth, Makhan Din, who died by suicide earlier this year in Kathua’s Billawar area.
The matter came before the High Court after the victim’s family sought transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a fair and impartial inquiry, expressing serious doubts over the credibility of the local police.
Read also: Justice Arun Palli Appointed As Chief Justice Of Jammu & Kashmir And Ladakh High Court
The single-judge Bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal passed the direction while hearing the plea. In addition to the CD report, the Court also ordered the personal appearance of the Station House Officer (SHO) and Investigating Officer (IO) of the Billawar Police Station, signaling the court's concern over the handling of the investigation.
“The SHO and the Investigating Officer of the concerned police station are directed to appear personally before this Court,”
– Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal
The petitioner’s counsel argued that although an FIR was registered, the report did not name any police official allegedly responsible for the brutal torture inflicted on Makhan Din and his father during custody.
Further, the advocate stated that the Action Taken Report (ATR) submitted to the Sub-Judge (Special Mobile Magistrate) in Kathua seemed to exonerate the accused police personnel completely, casting a serious shadow on the neutrality of the investigation.
“How can we expect a fair investigation from the very police station where Din and his father were so badly tortured?”
– Petitioner’s Advocate
Makhan Din, a resident of Bhattodi village in the Billawar area, belonged to the Gujjar community. In February 2025, he was detained and allegedly tortured in police custody in relation to a suspected militant connection.
Read also: Justice Arun Palli Sworn In As Chief Justice Of Jammu & Kashmir And Ladakh High Court
He died by suicide earlier this year, days after his release, and shortly before his death, recorded a heart-wrenching video message from a mosque. In the video, Makhan claimed he was innocent and said he feared being taken back into custody.
“They will beat me again,”
– Makhan Din in his last video message
The video formed a crucial piece of evidence in the case and reportedly captured the deep psychological distress he experienced due to alleged police torture.
Makhan was questioned by the security personnel because of his family’s alleged link with Swar Din (Swaru Gujjar) — a known militant reportedly operating from Pakistan. The police suspected his involvement in the July 2024 Army convoy attack in Badnota, which had resulted in the death of four soldiers.
However, in his final video, Makhan categorically denied any involvement in militant activities and claimed he was being harassed unfairly due to his family background.