Clashes erupted in South Kashmir on Sunday after a young trucker set ablaze by a group of miscreants on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway succumbed to burn injuries at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed expressed shock over the death while the separatists called for a day-long protest shutdown on Monday.
Five arsonists arrested in connection with petrol bombing on the halted truck on October 9 have been slapped with Public Safety Act (PSA) even as the kingpin of the attack remained at large. Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Shahid Iqbal said the murder charges will also be slapped on the arrested persons.
The 22-year-old Zahid Rasool Bhat succumbed to burn injuries at around 12 noon, police and family sources of the deceased said. Bhat had suffered 70 per cent injuries after a mob set on fire coal-laden truck in which he was sleeping along with two more Kashmiri truckers in Udhampur area on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on October 9. The truck was halted for overnight stay when it came under attack around midnight. While the driver of the truck escaped unhurt, his two companions suffered extensive burn injuries. The wounded had been airlifted to Delhi after remaining admitted in a Jammu hospital for two days.
An official statement said that five persons involved in the attack have been booked for planning and executing a criminal conspiracy aiming at disturbing peace and public order in the State under a pre-designed and motivated plan. One person stated to be the kingpin, is absconding since October 9 attack. The attack took place when a controversy on banning sale and possession of beef was raging in the State. The separatists allege that communal forces were behind the attack to “intimidate” people of Kashmir.
Molvi Mohammad Ashraf, a family member of the deceased told The Pioneer over phone from Delhi confirmed Zahid’s death and blamed the J&K officials for delaying his shifting to Delhi hospital from Jammu. The family members of both the victims recently alleged that the officials were harassing them. They returned the amount of official assistance handed over to them by the district officials to Chief Minister during his visit to Anantnag last week.
The Chief Minister and Opposition leader Omar Abdullah had visited the duo at Delhi hospital. However, they accepted the financial assistance of Independent legislator Er Rashid, who accompanied the family members of the two injured to Delhi. Rashid also alleged that official negligence in airlifting hastened Zahid’s death. “All the accused in the case should be given capital punishment”, Rashid said adding that slapping PSA on the miscreants won’t give justice to the victims’ families.
Another injured in the attack Showkat Ahmad is undergoing treatment and reported to be stable in the hospital.
Hundreds of people clashed with police when they took to streets in Botengo area of Anantnag demanding stern punishment to the accused. Security forces used tear smoke shells to quell the protesters.
Meanwhile, the authorities postponed all university and board examinations scheduled for Monday.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in a series of tweets alleged that BJP and its allies were directly responsible for killing of Zahid Rasool Bhat. “Another needless death in the name of #BeefBan for which the BJP & its affiliates including allies are directly responsible” Abdullah tweeted.
The separatists immediately called for shutdown on Monday to protest the death. The State Government cancelled convocation of Islamic University of Science and Technology where Human Resources Minister Smriti Zubin Irani was slated to be the chief guest.
Separatist leader Yasin Malik said Monday’s strike has been called to protest Zahid’s death and to express solidarity with Indian Muslims over latest killing of a person in Himachal Pradesh on bovine issue. Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq blamed state government for the death of Zahid Bhat alleging that government failed to rein in what he called the “communal forces hell-bent upon vitiating the atmosphere in the State”.
“Zahid’s murder is a clear cut indication of nefarious designs the communal elements and rightwing fanatics have for Kashmir and the Kashmiris have every right to express their anger and outrage against it by observing a shutdown”, Mirwaiz said in a statement. Syed Ali Geelani, another separatist leader also called for the shutdown.
Kashmir Economic Alliance, a grouping of Kashmiri traders termed Zahid’s death as “communal murder”. It said that these events were repercussions of unholy alliance between PDP and BJP.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed expressed deep shock and grief over the incident and ordered release of ex-gratia relief for the victim’s family. “I have no words to condemn the dastardly act which consumed the life of a poor and innocent young boy for no fault of his,” he mourned.
Mufti also ordered postponement of the 1st Convocation of IUST in view of Zahid’s tragic death. Mufti is the chancellor of the University situated at Awantipora in south Kashmir. Several students of the university had already announced to boycott the convocation.
Former Chief Minister and National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah described the attack on the truck as a shocking reminder of intolerance and frenzy perpetrated by elements inimical to peace and tranquility. He said the culprits should be identified, arrested and given heinous punishment as per law so that it serves deterrent for law breakers.