Three injured in attack over cattle-smuggling claims in Jammu
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Representational image | Photo: IANS
Three people, including one who sustained serious injuries, were allegedly attacked in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district on suspicion of transporting cattle illegally. An FIR registered in connection with the incident names 17 people as accused.
According to police, Shakeel Ahmed and his three employees, Gafoor, Altaf and Fika, were transporting 17 bovines from Kariya Post in Ramban to Maitra Govindpura on the evening of August 4 when they were allegedly stopped and assaulted, Indian Express reported.
In his complaint, which forms the basis of the FIR, Shakeel alleged that the vehicle was intercepted in Bilawat village. He and his employees were allegedly restrained, verbally abused and beaten with sticks by a group that suspected them of cattle smuggling. He said the animals had been entrusted to him for transportation.
The complaint also alleges that the attackers took two mobile phones belonging to the group.
Local residents have alleged that the attackers were members of a cow-vigilante group. Police, however, said the claim regarding the attackers’ affiliation was still being investigated.
The incident is the second reported attack in Ramban this year linked to allegations of cattle smuggling.
On April 12, a young man, Tanveer Ahmad Chopan, died after allegedly jumping into the Bishlari nullah while trying to escape a group suspected of being cow vigilantes. He was reportedly transporting a cow and two calves from Jammu at the time.
Following protests over Chopan’s death, a police Special Investigation Team arrested four people in connection with the case. His body was recovered from the nullah several days later.
Police said one of the three victims in the latest incident remains in serious condition and is undergoing treatment at Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu.
The FIR includes charges relating to wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt, theft, criminal intimidation and rioting, among other offences. No arrests have been made so far.