Muzaffarabad, Pakistan administered Kashmir — In a heart-wrenching appeal, Raja Naseem, father of the recently killed brothers Zarnosh and Jibran, has rejected all allegations made against his sons and submitted a formal request to Police demanding an impartial investigation into their deaths.
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The case has sparked growing concerns over alleged police misconduct, human rights violations, and rising tensions between the state and civil society.
A video previously posted by one of the deceased, Zarnosh Naseem, has resurfaced on social media. In the video—verified by both his father and close relatives—Zarnosh claims he was summoned to the police station and pressured to act against the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, a local civil rights group. He further alleged that the legal cases filed against him were fabricated.
“They were not criminals; they were community helpers.”
Raja Naseem described his sons as religious, community-oriented individuals whose character was widely respected. “The whole area stands as a witness to their moral conduct,” he said. “The large public turnout at their funeral was not for me, but for my sons’ uprightness and service to others.”
He recalled that Zarnosh had previously disappeared under suspicious circumstances, and only reappeared after public protests. While police claim he went into hiding due to pending cases, Raja Naseem disputes that account, asserting that his son feared being forcibly disappeared again.
“In an effort to pressure Zarnosh, police raided the university of my second son, Jibran,” the father claimed. “As a result, Jibran abandoned his studies. We had lost contact with both sons in recent weeks.”
“Our children didn’t die in an encounter—they surrendered.”
According to Raja Naseem, his sons were not killed in any armed encounter, but were allegedly arrested and killed in custody. He accused a senior police official (SSP) of threatening him directly.
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“During a heated exchange, the SSP told me, ‘Both of your sons will be killed; their deaths are already written.’ And now they are gone.”
Demands for an Independent Inquiry
Raja Naseem and his family have demanded a transparent and independent investigation, accusing the authorities of staging a custodial killing. He warned that if justice is not delivered, the family will escalate their protest to the highest level.
“We’ve lost everything. If we don’t get justice, we will go to the extreme—possibly even self-immolate in front of the Muzaffarabad courts,” he said in a tearful statement.
Human rights observers are now closely monitoring the situation, calling for a thorough investigation and urging the state to ensure accountability and transparency in all law enforcement actions.
