A nomad and his flock of 30 sheep were crushed under a rashly driven truck at Thopal near Batote this morning.
The incident triggered massive protest from nomads who blocked the Batote-Kishtwar Highway for around three hours alleging slackness by police in taking action.
Police said that a rashly driven Doda bound truck bearing registration number JKO2AF-9327 ran over the shepherd and the sheep.
The deceased Bakarwal along with family and livestock was on way to the plains of Jammu as part of the seasonal migration.
The nomads held a protest demonstration against the police and blocked the Batote-Kishtwar National Highway.
Sensing gravity of the situation, SHO Batote, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Ramban, and Tehsildar Batote, rushed to the spot to pacify the agitating Gujjars and Bakarwals.
The truck driver Bashrat Ali involved in the accident has been arrested and the truck has also been seized from Assar, SHO Police Station Batote, Inspector Nazir Ahmed told Greater Kashmir.
Police identified the deceased nomad as Rehmatullah Bakarwal (28 years), son of Mohammad Yaqoob, resident of Thopal Batote.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Ramban, Shokat Aijaz Bhat announced rupees
10,000 from Red Cross fund in favor of bereaved family.
Later, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Ramban, Dr Bashrat Hussain also reached Batote to console the aggrieved family and attended the Nimaz-e-Janaza and the burial of the deceased at Thopal Batote.