Scared of father, girl wants pension, not job

Anchal Sharma, nee Ameena Yousuf, is too scared these days to step outside her in-law’s home. After an autopsy proved that the cause of her husband, Jammu-based businessman Rajnish Sharma’s death in police custody was not suicide, Anchal thinks Rajnish was murdered possibly for getting married to a Muslim girl.

Anchal Sharma, nee Ameena Yousuf, is too scared these days to step outside her in-law’s home.

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After an autopsy proved that the cause of her husband, Jammu-based businessman Rajnish Sharma’s death in police custody was not suicide, Anchal thinks Rajnish was murdered possibly for getting married to a Muslim girl.

She said, “I fear there is a threat from my father and brothers.” Anchal’s father Mohammad Yousaf Meraji is a sub-inspector in the sales tax vigilance department.

On October 6, Rajnish was found hanging in a cell in Srinagar’s Ram Munshi Bagh police station. On October 2, he was picked up from his brother Pawan Sharma’s Jammu residence by some policemen, who apparently mistook him for Pawan.

Although two policemen have since been suspended and a third transferred, the administration is struggling to put a lid on the protests that already saw two senior officials being manhandled by mobs.

The government announced Rs 3 lakh as compensation as well as two jobs of special police officer (SPOs) for the family members.

Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal, too accepted that Rajnish did not commit suicide in custody. He said, “A magisterial inquiry is underway in Srinagar.”