Banihal/Jammu: A special investigation team (SIT) has been set up to probe the disappearance of a man who was ferrying cattle and is believed to have fallen into a stream in J&K’s Ramban district after being allegedly chased and assaulted by unidentified assailants, officials said on Monday.
Four suspects have also been arrested in connection with the case, even as hundreds of locals, including relatives of the missing persons, blocked the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near the scene of the incident at Makarkoot. Numerous vehicles were seen stranded on both sides of the road.
The four arrested accused have been identified as Surjeet Singh, Sandeep Singh, Digvijay Singh and Keval Singh, Banihal Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Surinder Singh Biloria told PTI, adding a case has been registered.
Efforts were underway to pacify the protesters and unclog the blockaded section of the highway. Authorities have also reduced mobile internet speeds in Banihal and Ramsoo as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, a team of NDRF joined rescuers searching for the missing man in Nallah Bishlari for the second day, the officials said.
Locals said Tanveer Ahmad Chopan, of Mundkhal Pogal in Ukhral tehsil, was travelling from Jammu to his village, ferrying a milch cow and two calves in a pick-up truck, when he was allegedly chased and assaulted by unidentified cow vigilantes.
Chopan, while trying to save himself, jumped into the nearby Nallah Bishlari, according to eyewitness accounts.
Ramban Additional Superintendent of Police Mujeeb ur Rehman, along with SDPO Choudhary, were on the spot and trying to persuade the protesters, who have been protesting for over five hours now.
Additional policemen have been rushed to the scene to maintain law and order, the officials said.
Condemning the incident, National Conference MLA Sajad Shaheen said, “Such barbaric acts have no place in a civilised society and appear to be a direct attempt to vitiate the hard-earned peace and harmony of our otherwise peaceful Ramban district.” Shaheen visited the scene and urged the people to maintain law and order while calling for a time-bound and impartial investigation.
Ramban MLA Arjun Singh Raju and senior Congress leader Vikar Rasool Wani also expressed their concerns over the incident, demanding a thorough investigation and strict punishment for the culprits.
Meanwhile, Beopar Mandal president Banihal Shadab Wani called off a one-day strike to protest against the incident, saying that the police had assured them of stern action against the culprits.
