A Muslim man, identified as 52-year-old Nayeem Ahmad Shah, was shot dead and another injured by an armed group in the Chenab valley¡¯s Bhaderwah district, leading to protests and eventual curfew in the communally sensitive area.
Enraged locals took to the streets and curfew was imposed on Thursday after protesters and police clashed and internet services suspended.
¡°He was shot dead allegedly by VDC (village defence committee) members at Nalthi Pul area of Bhaderwah segment,¡± an official told The Times of India.
The deceased¡¯s body is in the possession of the police. Reports suggest that eight people have been detained so far and the protesters thronging the streets had been demanding they be handed over. According to a report by Firstpost, ¡°Police officials said that all the eight people who have been detained were Hindus.¡±
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In the shooting, Nayeem died on the spot while his companion Zahoor Ahmed was injured and is under treatment in Bhaderwah.
Soon after the killing, protests broke out in the area. Police retaliated with teargas and batons to control the enraged locals, who pelted the police with stones. More than a dozen locals and a few policemen were injured. Close to 18 vehicles were damaged in the protests.
The Firstpost report further added that a relative of Nayeem claimed he wasn¡¯t carrying any cattle but was returning home from Kathua where he had gone to purchase horse when he was fired upon and died instantly.