Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 31: Clashes broke out in South Kashmir town of Shopian between stone throwing protesters and police after mysterious death of a water tanker driver last night.
Police said that one Aqib Ahmed, 20, died when he was repairing water tanker fetching water to Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Balpora Shopian town last night outside CRPF camp.
Police said that Aqib came under the water tanker during its repair and was removed to hospital for treatment. He died while he was being shifted to Srinagar, police added.
However, locals refuted police claim and alleged that Aqib was beaten up by the CRPF men after an altercation. They alleged that he was hit in the belly resulting in his death.
Aqib who was driving tanker bearing registration No. JK01A 9595 and Mukhtar Ahmad Gania who is driving tanker bearing registration No. JK02 976 were supplying water to Balpora Army camp.
They alleged that Aqib refused to fetch water to CRPF last night that resulted in altercation between him and CRPF men during which he was severely beaten up.
Postmortem of the body was conducted in the morning and as the word about Aqib’s death spread people took to the streets and staged protest. Senior police officers rushed to the spot to asses the situation.
Five protesters and a police man were injured in the clashes. However, they were brought under control after the body of Aqib was taken to Balpora village for last rites.
The Shopian area observed complete shut down against the death of Aqib. Shops and business establishments remained closed, traffic was off the roads.
A police spokesman said here this evening that last night at about 2130 hours, one Aaqib Ahmad Bhat son of Muhammad Yousf resident of Balpora while repairing water Tanker bearing registration number JK01A 9595 at Balpora got injured.
Police said that he was shifted to local Hospital where from he was referred to Srinagar hospital for further treatment. However, he died on way. Police has taken cognizance and started the investigation and FIR No. 249/12 has been registered in Police Station Shopian.
Today after conducting postmortem of the body, the body was handed over to his legal heirs for last rites, said the spokesman.
Tanker driver Mukhtar Ahmad Gania and his conductor Ishtiaq Ahmad Gania who were also present at the spot where Aqib died have been taken into preventive custody for questioning.
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