Rameez
Bhat, who managed to escape unhurt after goons set his truck on fire
told CNS he still doesn’t believe he is alive. “The goons wanted to see
us dead on spot but fortunately we are still alive. “After unloading our
apple laden truck (JK03D-1142) in New Delhi, we loaded truck with coal
and left for our home. Besides Showkat Dar from our neighbouring
Wuranhal hamlet, my conductor, Zahid Rasool Bhat (16) who is also my
neighbour was accompanying me. It was around 12 of the night when we
reached Udhampur. We decided to halt for a night near a place probably
called Shivpur. As we went to sleep, a group of people vigorously
started knocking the right and left windows of our truck. When we didn’t
open up the windows, they started pelting stones on the truck. Suddenly
they smashed the front windshield and lobbed a petrol bomb inside the
truck. The truck caught fire and in a bid to save our lives, we jumped
from the truck. The goons who were standing at a distance chased Showkat
and Zahid while taking advantage of darkness, I hid myself under the
truck,” he said.
Bhat
added that the goons armed with lathi’s and rods caught hold of Showkat
and Zahid and started thrashing them mercilessly. “They pleaded before
them but one of them sprinkled petrol over their clothes and another lit
a match stick and put them on fire. A single policeman, probably he was
on petrol tried to save Showkat and Zahid but goons beat him up as
well. After few minutes, few policemen arrived on spot and tried their
best to put out the fire. Both suffered severe burn injuries. It was
horrible to watch the charred skin of Zahid and Showkat. Only the head
and feet of Zahid were untouched by fire,” he said adding that they were
immediately rushed to Udhampur hospital but were later taken to GMC
Jammu.
Bhat
said that the doctors have advised the authorities to shift both
Showkat and Zahid to New Delhi for specialized treatment. “I contacted
the families of Showkat and Zahid and narrated them the whole story,” he
said.
While talking to CNS, Ghulam Rasool Bhat, the father of
Zahid said that a policeman from Khanabal police station arrived at his
residence and informed him about the incident. “I am too weak to travel
to Jammu or Delhi. I don’t understand what to do. Rameez, the truck
driver called on my mobile and when I insisted to bring my son on line,
he replied that except head and feet, the whole body of Zahid has
received burn injuries,” the father said.
Ghulam
Muhamamd Dar, the father of another victim Showkat Dar told CNS that he
has sent his son Muhamamd Iqbal to Jammu who informed him that Showkat
has 40 per cent burn injuries while Zahid has received 65 per cent
injuries in the attack.
Meanwhile the Sarpanch Batingo, Muhammad
Yousuf said that they will hit roads if stringent punishment is not
awarded to the culprits. “I personally intervened and pacified agitated
people who were hell-bent to take to roads. If Government will not take
strict action against the culprits then it will have serious
ramifications and the government will solely responsible for that,” he
said (CNS)
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