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Doda: The alleged ‘cow vigilantes’ killed a middle-aged man overnight, triggering off massive protests and outrage in Bhadarwah town of Doda district on Thursday.
The authorities imposed curfew and called out the army to control the situation even as police rounded up eight suspected persons in connection with the murder and assured to bring the guilty to book.
Reports said a group of three persons were heading towards their native Mohalla Qilla area of Bhaderwah along with their cattle when they were fired upon at 2 a.m. by alleged cow vigilantes near Nalthi village, leading to the on the spot killing of Nayeem Ahmad Shah. Two of his associates managed to escape with minor injuries.
Soon after the news spread in the area, hundreds of people took to streets and staged massive protests, seeking stern punishment against the killers and those at whose behest such acts are done. “This is not an act in isolation but a well thought out conspiracy and all those behind the heinous act need to be unmasked by police so as to prevent such incidents in future,” a local, who was part of the protests, said.
Reports said that the protesters pelted stones on police station, demanding that those behind the killing should be handed over to them.
They said police fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters, which further infuriated them following which they vandalized the parked vehicles by smashing their windowpanes. The protesters also torched two auto rickshaws and some motorcycles at Seri Bazaar, Takia Chowk and Pasri Bus Stand, they said.
“This is a nothing but a cold-blooded murder which has been carried out on the behest of the goons of BJP, RSS and Shiv Sena, who are hell-bent to polarize the situation here. If the kingpins are not booked immediately, this will have very dangerous consequences and for that only administration with Modi’s agenda will be responsible,” said Pervaiz Ahmed Sheikh, President Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhadarwah, while issuing a shutdown call against the incident.
Reports said that deputy Commissioner Doda, SSP and Commander 4 Sector RR Brig N.J.Singh are camping at Bhadarwah to assess the situation.
A police officer said that case under FIR no. 64/2019 under 302, 307 RPC and 3/25 and 7/27 Arms Act have been registered and investigation taken up.
When contacted Superintendent Police Bhaderwah Raj Singh Gouria told that 8 suspects persons have been detained in connection with the murder and further investigations are underway.
“Whosoever responsible for the murder will be brought to book,” he added.