Pro-freedom camp condemns attack on Kashmir-bound truck in Udhampur

Shah said the communal forces are hell bent to divide the state and alleged that government by not taking any action against these people is encouraging them.

Reacting sharply to Udhampur incident, in which a few fanatic elements hurled a petrol bomb on a Kashmir-bound truck, injuring two men, senior Hurriyat (M) leader and Chairman JKLF (H) Javaid Ahmad Mir today said, need of the hour is to show strong resistance against communal forces.

The Opposition parties, which include the National Conference, the Congress and other Independent legislators, raised a hue and cry in the Assembly and demanded the government’s clarification.

Opposition leader, Ali Muhammad Sagar of the NC, accused the BJP of “trying to fan communal fire in the State”.

The truck, which was travelling from Jammu to Srinagar, had halted at the Shiv Nagar area in Udhampur, about 65km from Jammu city, because protesters had called a Jammu shutdown today over the discovery of the three cow carcasses. There were heated arguments and verbal duel between NC members and ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition members in the house. “At around 11.45 p.m. yesterday a group of miscreants attacked a Kashmir bound truck at Udhampur with a few combustible material”. “An FIR has been registered under the Explosive Substances Act”, he said. The administration ruled out slaughter in its investigation report.

The minister stated that a hunt was on to nab the other miscreants responsible for the attack.

According to truck driver Rameez Ahmad Bhat, who was unhurt, the attackers struck while the truckers were sleeping.

Veeri identified three of the five people arrested as Bal Bahadur Singh, Sandoor Singh and Suneet Singh. He said of three two have sustained burn injuries and were rushed to Government Medical College Jammu for treatment.

State horticulture minister Abdul Rehman Bhat Veeri told the state’s upper House that a nearby police patrol had rescued the two injured helpers, who are both from Anantnag in south Kashmir.

The bandh was called by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) and supported by various religious and social organisations, including Bar Association Jammu (BAJ), evoking near complete response in the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir.