Violent protests rocked picturesque Bhaderwah town of hilly Doda district in the wee hours of Thursday following recovery of a bullet ridden dead body of a local resident of Qilla Mohalla.
As tension mounted in the area, curfew was imposed by the district authorities in Bhaderwah and its adjoining areas early on Thursday morning. At day break, large number of angry residents came out on the streets and attacked police station, Bhaderwah seeking action against the culprits behind the killing.
The deceased has been identified as 50 year old Naeem Ahmad Shah by the local police in the area.
Shouting slogans against the district authorities, angry residents also took out a march through main markets and vandalised large number of parked cars in the area.
Window panes of several houses and shops were also broken in the sporadic incidents of stone pelting in Seri Bazaar, Takiya Chowk, Jama Masjid Bazar and old bus stand area of Bhaderwah.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Doda district, Shabir Ahmad Malik said, “a dead body was recovered from Nalthi area, 3 kms from Bhaderwah around 2.00 a.m late last night”.
He said, “police teams were immediately rushed to the spot and at least seven suspected people have been detained so far from the nearby areas”.
He said, “local residents also took out a procession and indulged in stone pelting in which several parked vehicles were damaged”. He said,” i cannot give the exact number of vehicles damaged during the protests in the area”.
When asked whether the deceased,returning home along with his livestock, was attacked by active ‘cow vigilantes’ in the area, SSP Doda Shabir Ahmad Malik said, “it is a matter of investigation. Since we have not recorded any statements i cannot comment further”. He said, “we cannot rely on rumour mongering going on in the area.”
Deputy Commissioner, Doda, Dr Doifode Sagar Dattatray, when contacted said, “a suspicious murder took place late Wednesday night and a dead body was recovered around 2.00 a.m from Nalthi area in Bhaderwah town”.
DC Doda said, “while speculations were going on to establish the identity of alleged killers tension mounted between the members of two different communities in the area”. He said, sensing more trouble in the area the district administration had issued orders for imposition of curfew in Bhaderwah and its adjoining areas around 7.00 a.m”.
“We had also requisitioned army columns,state police force and para military forces for area domination and to contain the law and order situation in the area”.
DC, Doda said, “ the security forces had to use mild force to brought the situation under control and restore order in the area”.
He said, a total number of two vehicles (motorcycles) were torched by the angry residents during violent demonstrations. He said, “i have spoken to members of both the communities to pacify the situation”. He said, “who so ever is behind the killing of a local resident will be taken to task as per rule of law”.
DC, Doda confirmed, “the curfew restrictions will remain enforced strictly during the night”. “We will take a fresh review of the security situation on Friday morning”, he added.
Meanwhile, to protest the growing incidents of attacks on local residents, Pervaiz Ahmed Sheikh, President Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhaderwah, gave a shut down call against the killing incident on Friday.