Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, Mar 2: A driver and his associate were murdered during road rage near Sher Bibi area here on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, late last night.
As per police sources, a truck bearing registration number JK03E-8811 was on its way to Srinagar from Jammu, when its driver overtook a trailer bearing registration number JK02BH-2877, which was also on its way to Srinagar from Jammu, leading to some verbal duel between the drivers of both the vehicles near Sher Bibi area, falling under the jurisdiction of Banihal police station.
The truck driver parked his vehicle on the wrong side of the National Highway and stopped the trailer. The driver of the trailer drove his vehicle forward and hit the truck driver and his associate, resulting into their on the spot death
Taking benefit of the darkness, the driver of the trailer, identified as Beli Ram, son of Mangat Ram, a resident of Chatha, Jammu escaped from the spot.
On getting information, police team rushed to the spot and shifted the bodies of the truck driver identified as Abdul Gani, son of Ghulam Mohammad Dar, a resident of Dooru, district Anantnag and his associate namely Mudassir, son of Farooq Rather, a resident of Qazigund to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Banihal. The bodies were later handed over to family members after conducting autopsy.
A case under Section 279 and 304-A RPC was registered against the driver of the trailer at Banihal police station and hunt was launched to nab the accused driver.
As the news of murder of driver and his associate in road rage spread in the morning, the shopkeepers closed down their business establishments in Banihal on the shutdown call given by Beopar Mandal Banihal.
Demanding immediate arrest of the murderer, the shopkeepers along with locals staged protest and blocked the vehicular movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. The protestors were demanding immediate arrest of the accused driver and strict punishment to him.
Later, SSP Ramban Mohan Lal along with other officers of the Police Department rushed to the spot and informed the protestors that the accused driver has been arrested from Ramban and strict action will be taken against him.
On the assurance, the protestors dispersed and vehicular movement was restored on the national highway.
When contacted, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ramban Mohan Lal said that the driver and his associate were murdered during road rage.
The accused driver has been arrested, the SSP said, adding that further investigation into the case is going on.