Thatri (Doda), Sept 2: Violent protest demonstrations broke out in Thatri area of mountainous Doda district after a local driver jumped into river Chenab immediately after he was released from police custody.
Protestors ransacked local police station and set on fire the official vehicle of Station House Officer. Police fired several teargas shells and also fired in air to disperse the mob.
Local residents alleged that police picked up a driver, Muhammad Rafi Mochi of Bandoi, on Thursday morning for some unknown reasons. The driver, as per the locals, was given severe thrashing in the police station and was also subjected to harassment.
After keeping him in custody for a few hours, Mochi was released in the afternoon. 
 However, he reportedly rushed towards Chenab and jumped into the river behind the police station.
 As the news spread in the area, a strong mob of around five thousand people assembled in the town and all the shops and other business establishments were closed. The protestors marched straight to the police station and reportedly attacked the SHO, Raghubir Singh, who had to take shelter in a nearby army camp.
 The angry mob ransacked the police station and set ablaze the official vehicle of the SHO. They were demanding immediate arrest of the erring cops who they said were responsible for the driver’s killing.
 Police fired teargas shells and several rounds in air to quell the mob. The ding dong battles continued for a few hours which also disrupted vehicular movement on Batote-Kishtwar highway.
 While police maintains that Mochi was picked after a local resident, Abdul Karim, lodged an FIR alleging kidnapping of her daughter, the local residents maintained that the poor driver was picked up and given severe thrashing by the police personnel only because of carrying two extra passengers in his vehicle.
 Senior police officers including District SP Prabath Singh rushed from Doda to take stock of the situation.
 Late evening reports said that police has agreed to place two constables under suspension, while assuring that matter would be probed.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 2 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 2 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 3 Sep 2010 00:00:00 IST