Srinagar: The death of a youth triggered massive protests in the outskirts of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday. Amid protests, complete shutdown was observed after the people found the dead body of Bilal Ahmed Bhat son of Abdul Ahad Bhat of Baskochan, Imamsahab area of Shopian in an orchard. Police termed it as a murder and said that one accused Ramzan Shiekh has been arrested while the hunt for his four sons have been started.
As the word about the incident, spread people took to the streets and staged a massive protest.
The death of Bilal Ahmed Ahmed under mysterious circumstances created chaos and confusion in the area. People came on roads and raised anti-police slogans, however after sometime the word spread that Bilal was allegedly murdered over a matter involving transaction of money and instantly the restless and angry mob set ablaze the residential house of Muhammad Ramzan Sheikh alleging that his son was “involved in the murder.â€
The mob-pelted stones on two story concrete house of Ramzan Shiekh and set it on fire. Eyewitnesses told that no police or administrative official reached on the spot to pacify the protestors and the house was gutted completely.
“We don’t know who kidnapped Bilal but we suspect the involvement of Ramzan Shiekh and his sons. All his son’s are absconding,†Brother of Bilal Ahmed told reporters and added that Bilal died due to strangulation.
He said that some people called Bilal out from his house and kidnapped him. “We approached police but they ignored us and didn’t take any action. We after that approached Camp and they assured us of his release till morning but Bilal was not in their custody. During morning, we found his dead body. Bilal was hanged,†he said.
Sarpanch, Mohammad Shafi told that he came to know from the family that Bilal was missing and he immediately with others rushed to police station and Imam Sahab Army camp. “DySp told us to wait till morning and same reply was given by the Army. We were searching for Bilal whole night and it was in the morning that we found his dead body in an orchard that was buried in a pit,†he said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police,South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told that people and police find the dead body of Bilal Ahmed in an orchard. “People suspected the involvement of Ramzan Shiekh and set his house on fire before the arrival of police on spot. We have arrested Ramzan while the hunt for his four sons has been started,†Kumar said and added that Bilal was strangulated and the transaction of money might have become the cause for his death.
