Curfew imposed in Kashmir town after injured village-head dies

Authorities Thursday imposed curfew after violence erupted in Hajin Township of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district following the death of a National Conference village-head who was injured during a scuffle with shopkeepers a day ago.

Abdul Rashid Wagay alias Rashid Kabuli, a former counter-insurgent, was critically injured on Wednesday after he was assaulted by the shopkeepers.

Local sources said as soon as the news of Kabuli’s death spread in the town, his supporters and relatives took to the streets and ransacked the shops and houses of Shakeel Ahmad Khan who owns Khan Gas Agency and Shahid Ahmad, who owns Al Gani Motors.

“The relatives and supporters of Kabuli barged into the residential houses of Shakeel and Shahid and smashed window panes and glasses. The agitated people also broke shutter of their shops and damaged fridges and other goods,” they said.

Sources said Kabuli was assaulted after he went on the shop of Shakeel Khan. “He went there for a gas cylinder but Shakeel refused to give him as Kabuli owed him some money. Shakeel told him to clear the balance and in the meanwhile they exchanged heated arguments,” they said, adding: “Following the exchange of heated arguments, the relatives of Shakeel, who also have shops in the same complex, came and assaulted Kabuli resulting in critical injuries to him.”

Sources also dismissed the reports that Shakeel is a Congress activist.

Meanwhile, following the ransacking, police reached on the spot and resorted to baton charge and teargas shelling to disperse the agitated mob. Additional numbers of government forces personal including paramilitary troops were deployed in the area to maintain law and order, an eyewitness said.

Police said a case has been registered under case FIR number 105/14 under section 302/RPC in this regard and investigation has been taken up. “The four accused persons Shakeel Ahmad Khan, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan sons of Mohammad Shafi Khan and Showkat Ahmad Parray, Firdous Ahmad Parray sons of Ghulam Ahmad Parray were arrested,” the police said.

Kabuli was a resident of Kathpora locality in Hajin and was formerly associated with Ikhwan-ul-Muslimoom – a dreaded pro-government militia – headed Muhammad Yousuf alias Kuka Parray, who was killed by militants in an audacious attack in year 2004 at Hajin – the birthplace of Ikhwan.

However in 2002, he left Ikhwan and kept low profile.  A local source said he was associated with Bhartiya Janata Party in year 2008 but left later. In 2011, the slain joined National Conference and fought elections on its ticket and become a village-head. Rashid is married and is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

Thousands of people, witnesses said, attended the funeral of Kabuli which was led by the son of Higher Education Minister and local Lawmaker Muhammad Akbar Lone.

The forces, meanwhile, had to resort to aerial firing and teargas shelling again in the evening after a mob tried to torch Shakeel Khan’s house. “But, they were dispersed and the situation is under control,” an official said.

Minister for Higher Education and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Sonawari, Muhammad Akbar Lone, expressed sympathy with the family of deceased.

Lone said there is no political rivalry behind the killing as was reported earlier. “He had a scuffle with shopkeepers when he went to buy a gas cylinder. In the meanwhile, he was assaulted by some people and today he succumbed. There is no Congress- NC angle,” he said.

When asked about the ransacking by angry mob, he said: “It is obvious that after incidents like this people get infuriated.”

He appealed Kabuli’s relatives to maintain calm and expressed hope that ‘culprits’ would be soon brought to justice.