Tragic Death in South Kashmir After Police Station Visit
A 55-year-old dry fruit seller from south Kashmir has died after setting himself on fire hours after being called to a local police station for questioning. Bilal Ahmad Wani succumbed to his injuries at Srinagar's Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital on Sunday, having suffered more than 70% burn injuries according to medical officials.
Sequence of Events Leading to Tragedy
According to family members, Wani was asked to present himself at the Qazigund police station on Saturday morning. He spent the entire day at the police facility and returned home late in the evening around 9 PM. A relative described Wani as visibly disturbed upon his return, noting that "he didn't talk to anyone" after coming back from the police station.
The situation took a tragic turn on Sunday morning when Wani went outside his home, took petrol from a car, and set himself ablaze. The incident occurred in south Kashmir, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing security situation in the region.
Family Connections to Police Custody
The case gains additional significance as Wani's son, Jasir Altaf, and brother, Nabeel Ahmad, were already in police custody at the time of the incident. Family members revealed that during Wani's questioning, police inquired whether they had attended the wedding of Dr. Rather recently, indicating the questioning was related to an ongoing terror module investigation.
A family member explained their connection to Dr. Rather, stating: "He is a neighbour and we know him. He is also a doctor, and people here would go to him." This connection appears to have drawn the family into the police investigation.
Contradictory Police Statements
In response to the incident, Superintendent of Police, Kulgam, Anayat Ali Chowdhary, denied that Wani was called by the Kulgam police. Chowdhary stated: "Why should we call him when there is no case against them with the Kulgam police? When his son was picked up, we called him and took details. We let him go at that moment only. None of his family members are in detention of the Kulgam police."
The contradictory accounts between family members and police officials highlight the tension surrounding the case. While family insists Wani was deeply affected by his police station visit, authorities maintain they had no ongoing case against him.
Political Reactions and Broader Implications
The incident has drawn political attention, with former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti commenting on the situation. Mufti expressed concern that "random" picking of young men risks driving them towards "darker paths", reflecting broader anxieties about police methods in the region.
The case emerges against the backdrop of ongoing security operations in Jammu and Kashmir, where terror-related investigations frequently involve questioning local residents. The tragic death of Bilal Ahmad Wani underscores the human cost of these security measures and raises questions about police procedures and their psychological impact on civilians.
As investigations continue, the community mourns the loss of a local businessman while authorities face increasing scrutiny over their handling of the situation. The incident occurred on November 17, 2025, marking another tragic chapter in the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley.
