Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Dec 23: Three people were killed while seven others were injured in South Kashmir’s Ashmuqam after a man termed to be in a “different state of mind” attacked them with a lathi, causing panic in the area.
Click here to watch video
As per officials, the attack was so severe that 3 injured people died immediately. They said that one died after being referred to SKIMS, while two others lost their lives after being taken to a nearby hospital.
The attacker has been identified as Javaid Ahmad while among those who were killed also include his mother who has been identified as Hafiza Begum.
While it was widely stated that the attacker was mentally “unsound”, the officials told Excelsior that he has been normally living his life and has a shop in Pahalgam as well while they also negated the claims that the attacker was under the influence of drugs.
“There was no influence of drugs whatsoever, but the family members have stated that he was possessed by djinns and would usually visit the Ashmuqam Shrine with his mother,” the officials said.
The attacker, officials said, insisted his mother take him to Ashmuqam shrine on Thursday and after coming back, his behaviour suddenly changed and he ended up manhandling his mother.
“However, the situation got out of control today when he started beating his mother with a lathi, injuring her severely, including a few others who were nearby.”
Chief Medical Officer, Anantnag Dr M.Y. Zagoo told Excelsior that out of seven injured, all, except one, are undergoing treatment in the district. “One has been shifted to Srinagar for further treatment where the condition of the patient continues to be critical,” he said.
Police have in this regard, registered a case and have arrested the accused, while the post-mortem of those who were killed has been carried out by the Health authorities as a part of further investigation into the murder case.
The authorities in the district told Excelsior that the accused was reported to have been seen in a mentally disturbed condition a few days back in Pahalgam market, while his family members have told the Investigating Officers that he was not suffering from “chronic madness.”
“The case is under investigation and the priority was given to get the injured treated, arrest the accused and carry out other medico-legal processes; rest, it has been stated by the eye-witnesses that the accused was in, what has been stated as, higher state of mind where he did not comprehend what was he doing and why was he doing it in which he ended up killing his mother; we are trying to know what it is all about,” the officials said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
