Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Dec 3: An irate mob set blaze a truck carrying bovine animals at Pathwal in Hiranagar tehsil of Kathua district today and later tried to block Jammu-Pathankot National Highway prompting the police to use batons and fire teargas shells to disperse the violent protesters, officials said.
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Tension prevailed in Hiranagar area after the incident in village Pathwal and additional police personnel have been deployed there.
A group of people stopped the truck carrying eight cows and buffaloes in the village around 1050 hrs and set ablaze the vehicle after “rescuing” the animals, an official said.
According to police, the driver and the conductor of the vehicle abandoned it on noticing the mob and escaped.
The protesters blocked the main road demanding stern action against the persons accusing them of bovine smuggling, the officials said.
A large contingent of police was rushed to the village to restore order but the protesters refused to disperse and also tried to block the Jammu-Pathnakot Highway near Dayalachak, after which the cops fired teargas shells and used batons to disperse them, an official said, adding two persons suffered minor injuries in the violence.
“The situation in the area is tense but under control,” the official said adding the traffic on the highway was going on smoothly.
A case was registered in this connection and further investigation is on, the officials said.
The protestors alleged that the bovine smuggling is a routine affair in the area and police has failed to control the same. They alleged that the bovine animals are being smuggled under the nose of the police as no routine patrolling is held.
Reports said that the truck was totally burnt by the mob who also assembled on NH to block it in protest. SHO, Hiranagar, Arvind Sambyal said that a case under RPC 279/188 and 435 has been registered at Police Station, Hiranagar and investigation started.
The mob dispersed after senior police officers rushed to the area and pacified the mob. They also assured them action against the bovine smugglers in the area.
Reports said the truck was on way from Kathua to Samba via OSK road and SHO Ghagwal was chasing it soothe driver changed the route and tried to rush towards Hiranagar side. In the meantime the truck hit a tractor in the way. The mob seeing the truck carrying bovine animals also chased it and overpowered it at Pathwal.
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