| People protest, demand job for murdered NC leader's wife | | | Early Times Report
Rajouri, Dec 20: The family members, who were joined by villagers, today kept the body of NC youth leader, who was on Saturday shot dead allegedly by a ration dealer following some dispute, on Jammu-Poonch highway at Muradpur and raised slogans against the state government, demanding Rs 10 lakh compensation, government jobs for his wife and one other family member, unarming of VDC members and action against those involved in the incident.
Shabir Ahmed Bhat, Deputy Commissioner, along with SSP Rajeshwar Singh, SSP (IRP) Mohammad Fareed, and additional police force rushed to the spot and after discussions with NC leader and ex-MLA Rashpal Singh, ex-MLA Shabir Ahmed Khan and victim's uncle Abdul Rashid, spoke to the protesters and assured them suitable compensation.
"A cheque of Rs 2 lakh has been handed over to the kin and it was decided to send their demand of Rs 10 lakh compensation to the state government for further action. As for as government jobs were concerned, SSP was asked to issue appointment letters in favour of wife and sister of the deceased as SPO in police department," the DC said.
VDC members of the area had been asked to deposit their guns at the police station as the situation was tense, he said and added that SSP was also directed to look into the misuse of the VDC guns as was alleged by the protesters.
Pertinently, since the militancy was wiped out from the district several incidents of misuse of VDC guns have been reported as the people are allegedly using these guns to either commit suicides or taking revenge for their personnel grudges.
On Saturday at about 7 pm, following some verbal dispute that later took ugly turn over improper distribution of CA&PD ration, ration dealer Kewal Sharma, in a fit of rage, opened fire on Ishtiaq Choudhry, NC block president for Dhangri, resulting in his instant death. After the incident, people had locked Kewal in his ration shop to save him from the victim's relatives who had reached the spot.
On getting information, a police party headed by SHO of Kalakot police station had rushed to the village but people didn't allow him to take the custody of Kewal, demanding first an action against others who were present at the time of the incident. SHO, brought the matter to the notice of SSP, who along with additional police force, rushed to the village. Following a detailed discussion with the protesters and family members of the deceased, police had succeeded in taking the custody of the accused at about 10 pm and removed him to Kalakot police station under security cover, said a villager.
Ishtiaq and Kewal had some dispute over a piece of land and under the grab of improper distribution of ration, both had some tiff on Saturdaythat took ugly turn and angered by the allegation, Kewal allegedly opened fire from his .303 VDC gun, killing Ishtiaq on the spot. |
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