For the third consecutive day on Saturday, Bhaderwah and its adjoining areas remained under curfew that was imposed following protests and clashes triggered by the killing of a 50-year-old man, Naeem Ahmed Shah on Thursday.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Doda, Shabir Ahmed Malik,said the situation was peaceful in the area and a Special Investigation Team(SIT) has been constituted to investigate the murder.
Naeem’s killing triggered massive protests and group clasheson Thursday, forcing authorities to impose indefinite curfew.
The SSP Doda, meanwhile, constituted the six-member SITcomprising senior Prosecution Officer Temoor Jahangir Khan, SHO Munir AhmedKhan, Ehsan-ullah-Haq, SafdarHussain and Parveen Kumar. The team is headed by theSuperintendent of Police Bhaderwah, Raj Singh Gouria.
The newly constituted SIT, along with a team of ForensicScience Laboratory (FSL) Jammu, visited the crime scene this morning to collectevidence.
“We collected some evidences and samples from the spot,which will be sent to FSL for further investigation,” said Gouria.
“We have also seized the weapon (12 bore gun) and sent it toFSL Jammu. We are investigating the case from all angles. Hope we will reach tothe conclusion soon,” the SP added.
Naeem was allegedly killed by cow vigilantes. Two groupsclashed after his killing at Seri Bazaar locality of the town. A mob attackedhouses, shops and vehicles. About three dozen vehicles were damaged by theprotestors in the stone pelting and clashes on Thursday.
Police intensified patrolling in sensitive areas and fourmore companies of CRFP were deployed in the town on Friday.
“We have kept three companies on standby and the remainingone is on the job in the sensitive area,” said Commanding Officer 33 BattalionCRPF A Padma Kumar
Eight persons have been arrested in connection with thekilling so far.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner DodaSagarDoifode said anumber of non-locals were found involved in stone-pelting and three of themwere arrested so far.
“All those involved in violent protests are beingidentified. More arrests are expected in the coming days,” he said, addingthat police have been directed to collect details of non-locals includingstudents, labourers, servants and businessmen who are living as tenants to keepa watch on their activities.
“The situation is well under control. We are reviewingthe situation later in the day and will decide about relaxation in the curfewaccordingly,” he said.
Shops and business establishments belonging to the majoritycommunity remained closed in adjoining Kishtwar district town in protestagainst the killing.
The Imam of Jamia Masjid Kishtwar had called for a bandh.