A man was killed and another wounded with minor injuries, when some unidentified persons fired on them late night in a village of Bhaderwah tehsil in Doda district.
Nayeem Ahmed Shah (50) resident of Qilla Mohalla in Bhaderwah accompanied by Yasir Hussain and another person had gone to village Basti. The incident happened, when they were returning back to Qilla Mohalla from Basti village with their horses, according to Yasir, an eyewitness, who claimed to have survived the deadly attack. He was speaking with the local media in Bhaderwah.
“We were stopped by a group of around eight men, and they were hurling abuses at us. They were cow vigilantes. Before we could even understand anything, one of them fired at Nayeem Shah, killing him on spot,” said Yasir.
Yasir along with the other friend fled for safety and at a distance, they noticed Nayeem was not with them. “We both went back to the spot, that is at the Nalthi village bridge and were stunned to find him lying dead there,” he said. He was shot in the forehead.
Nayeem was lying in the pool of blood, Yasir who was also wounded in the firing said. Yasir and his friend dragged Nayeem’s body to a safer place, and then informed their family members about the incident, sources said.
As soon as people came to know about the killing, massive protests broke out in several places of Bhaderwah town like the historic Seri Bazaar, Tekiya Chowk, and Pasri Bus Stand.
The protesters pelted stones at the vehicles, and on some business establishments, compelling the authorities to snap internet services as well as impose curfew restrictions.
Sensing trouble, police swung into action, and detained seven persons suspected to be involved in the killing of Nayeem. One is still at large.
A It was learnt by The Citizen that single barrel gun (country made) was used in killing the middle aged man by the ‘cow vigilantes’, though still not confirmed by the police department.
Family members and relatives of the deceased came to know about the detention of seven suspected persons, they rushed towards the police station Bhaderwah.
At this place, they started holding demonstrations demanding that the accused be handed over to them. Within no time, the demonstration turned violent and they allegedly attacked the police station Bhaderwah in a fit of anger, while the police tried to disperse them with a baton charge and tear gas shells.
The Army has been called in to help the police and paramilitary forces to restore peace in Bhaderwah town.
People have alleged that a similar incident happened two months back at Nalthi at the same place where Nayeem was shot dead. A person namely Fareed Ahmed of Qilla Mohallah was caught and badly assaulted by the same group of eight and the police allegedly took no action, according to the locals.
Anjuman-e-Islamia, Bhadarwah, president, Pervaiz Ahmed Sheikh, has termed the killing as ‘cold blooded’ murder, and demanded arrest of all the accused persons.
Till the filing of this report, the situation in Bhaderwah was tense but under control.
