Srinagar, Nov 04: A family from Padarpora village of Shopian in south Kashmir Wednesday staged a protest here to seek action against some local “goons” who they alleged killed their elderly kin during a land acquisition drive.
Questioning district administration’s alleged silence over the issue, the family comprising men, women and children brought the ‘dead body’ of the deceased to the Press Enclave here this morning and staged protest to seek action against the accused.
Protesters said they will not bury the body until and unless the police register formal FIR against the accused, who according to them had murdered the deceased after barging into his house.
They said the deceased man, identified as 75-years-old Abdul Salam Thokar “did not die due to cardiac arrest but was killed by the some local goons after he refused to remove a shed from a piece of land they wanted to take hold of”.
“We are not going to bury the dead body unless a formal case is registered against the goons who have unleashed a reign of terror in the village. We have not assembled here to seek compensation but justice for the victim’s family who was murdered in cold-blood,” Nazir Ahmad Thokar, a relative if the deceased told reporters.
He said the incident occurred after a team led by SDM Shopian arrived in village Hermain to take possession of land supposed to be converted into a playground. Thokar said the team, without issuing any notice, arrived in the village to take possession of the land resulting in clashes.
“What prompted the team to arrive in the village when the issue is already pending in the court? The land administration wants to convert into playground is disputed. The deceased was asked by the goons to dismantle his shed and ion the ensuing mille he lost his life,” he added.
The protesters appealed the administration to ask police to lodge FIR against the accused, who they alleged killed the deceased in broad daylight.
