Srinagar, Sept 12: A truck driver from Baramulla’s Noorbagh area was found dead inside his truck at a scrap-loading facility in Bari Brahmana, Jammu’s Samba distrcit, on September 7, with his family suspecting foul play and urging police to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
The deceased has been identified as Arvind Singh, a resident of Sangri Colony, Noorbagh, who worked as a truck driver and transported scrap between Srinagar and Jammu.
According to his brother, Aman Singh, Arvind had left home on Thursday, reached Srinagar on Friday and travelled onward to Jammu, arriving there on Saturday.
“He had spoken normally to his wife at around 8:45 pm on Saturday. There was nothing unusual in the conversation,” Aman said.
The family said Arvind used to dump scrap at the factory in Bari Brahmana where he was found dead and generally slept inside his truck while travelling for work.
According to the family, his WhatsApp account showed him online around midnight on Saturday.
The family has raised questions over the circumstances of his death, citing CCTV footage from the factory. They said the footage shows a person whom they identify as fellow truck driver Darbara Singh entering Arvind’s truck.
Arvind’s wife told the family that Darbara Singh had allegedly had an argument with Arvind a few days earlier over a monetary issue.
However, the family said it was not clear whether the person seen in the CCTV footage had been detained or questioned by police.
“We want the police to properly investigate what happened and check the CCTV footage. We do not know whether the person seen entering the truck has been arrested or questioned,” the family said.
The family also said the post-mortem report has not yet been received and that, according to their information, no FIR has been registered so far.
After the post-mortem and completion of legal formalities, Arvind’s body was handed over to his family.
Arvind is survived by his pregnant wife and their three-and-a-half-year-old daughter.
“It is deeply unfortunate to hear about the death of a young member of our community under such suspicious circumstances. The concerns raised by the family must be thoroughly investigated and their questions answered. A Special Investigation Team should be constituted to conduct a fair and impartial probe, and the government should also announce a rehabilitation package for the bereaved family,” human rights activist Angad Singh Khalsa said.
Attempts to contact the concerned police station for an official response were unsuccessful, with calls going unanswered.
The circumstances leading to Arvind’s death remain unclear, and the cause of death is expected to be established after the post-mortem report is received.
