NIA denies detaining youth who died in police custody

SRINAGAR — Amid outrage over the death of an Awantipora resident in police custody, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday said the deceased was not examined by the probe agency.

“NIA emphatically denies reports linking NIA with Rizwan Ahmed resident of Awantipora,” the probe agency said, in a statement issued on Tuesday.

“He was neither called for questioning nor was he examined at any other location in connection with cases being investigated by NIA,” the statement added.

Rizwan Assad Pandit (28) died in the custody at CARGO camp in Srinagar last night, triggering widespread condemnations and protests in Kashmir.

Separatists have called for a shutdown in Kashmir tomorrow to protest his custodial death.

Earlier, reports had said that Pandit was detained by the NIA few days ago.