Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 8: Tension gripped Chenani and adjoining areas as three carcasses of bovine animals were found under mysterious circumstances in this peaceful town of Udhampur district, this morning following which strong protests were held and agitating people blocked the ever busy Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
As the Udhampur District Administration and Police swung into action, the situation remained under control and the blockade of National Highway was also lifted in late afternoon on the assurance of Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Shahid Choudhary, who along with SSP Udhampur Suleman Choudhary rushed to the spot.
As a precautionary measure, the authorities also snapped mobile internet services, which were restored only after the protesting people lifted highway blockade.
According to DC Udhampur, Shahid Choudhary, a postmortem of the carcasses has been conducted for ascertaining exact cause of deaths but the preliminary investigations hint that the bovine animals were poisoned. “There was no mark of cut on the carcasses except some bruises near ears while a few crows were also found lying dead near the bodies thus indicating that the animals were apparently poisoned,” he explained.
However, the incident triggered strong protests in Chenani, Reasi and Udhampur towns. Besides, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other right wing organizations have also issued separate calls for a bandh in Udhampur, Reasi and Kathua on October 9.
The Panthers Party has given call for Jammu bandh on October 10. The call was announced by NPP Leader Harshdev Singh.
The trouble erupted this morning around 9 am after carcasses of three bovine animals were found near SDM Office, FCI godown and adjoining a poultry farm on end of the market in Chenani town. The news of lying these carcasses under mysterious circumstances spread like wild fire in the town and soon gathering of the people turned into a massive protest demonstration. After observing a complete shut down in the town, the protesting people marched towards the National Highway where a demonstration cum dharna was staged leading to complete blockade of Jammu-Srinagar link and disruption of vehicular movement for around four hours. The protesting people, whose number was in hundreds, raised slogans and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
Acting swiftly, the DC Udhampur, Shahid Choudhary and SSP Udhampur Suleman Choudhary rushed to the spot and assured necessary action against the culprits. Along with locals, Shahid Choudhary reached the town and immediately called a team of Veterinary doctors, who conducted on the spot postmortem of carcasses for ascertaining exact cause of death of the bovine animals.
“Even as report of the postmortem report is yet to be prepared by the team of doctors, it appears that cause of death of these bovine animals was poisoning as some crows and a monkey were also found dead near the carcasses,” informed Sahid Choudhary and admitted that there seemed an attempt to create communal tension by some anti-social elements.
After the postmortem was conducted and the DC assured arrest of the culprits by 12 noon of tomorrow, the agitating people lifted the blockade on National Highway around 4 pm but all shops and business establishments in Chenani town remained closed throughout the day.
“The bazaar will also remain closed tomorrow morning and if the culprits are not arrested by 12 noon of Friday, we will chalk out further course of action,” said Rinku Gupta, member of Chenani Beopar Mandal.
Meanwhile, the Chenani incident also triggered strong protests in Reasi and Udhampur towns. Activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal took out a protest rally in the towns and raised slogans. They were demanding immediate arrest of the culprits and stern action against them. At Garhi also, a similar and strong protest was held by the locals who blocked the National Highway for some time and disrupted vehicular movement.
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