School teacher, arrested in militancy case, dies in custody

Srinagar: A school teacher, who was arrested in connection with a militancy case, has died in a police custody here, prompting the department to request for a magisterial inquiry, officials said on Tuesday.

Rizwan Pandit, 28, a resident of Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, died during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, a police officer said.

Pandit, who was a teacher at a private school, was picked up by the security agencies three days ago in connection with a militancy case, the officer said.

The police department has requested a magisterial inquiry under Section 176 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to ascertain the cause and circumstances leading to Pandit’s death, the officer said, adding that further details were awaited.  (Agencies)