Srinagar: Clashes broke out between government forces and civilian protesters in Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district following death of a Jama’at e Islami activists in police custody. 

According to eye witnesses people from nearby villages and localities marched towards the house of Rizwan Ahmad Pandith. 

Youth clashed with government forces deployed in the area and resorted to stone pelting. 

Reports said that forces resorted to firing aerial fire to disperse the protesters.  

A private School teacher, Rizwan Ahamad Pandith son of Assaddulah pandith a resident of Awantipora Pulwama by proffession and a jamaat-e-Islami activist died in Police custody after he was picked up for questioning by the NIA in connection with the Militancy related case, a top official told KNO.

According to statement issued to KNO Police said that in pursuance of “terror case investigation”, one suspect Rizwan Pandit was in police custody. 

“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, they said, police investigation has also been initiated in the jurisdictional area of incident, it said.

Meanwhile, authorities at Islamic University of Science and Technology postponed the semester examinations. (KNO)