Shutdown in Kishtwar over hotelier’s killing

JAMMU: A complete shutdown was observed on Saturday in the Kishtwar town by the people demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.

Istiyaq Ahmad Dar, a resident of Semna Colony and a businessman, was shot dead by unidentified assailants around 8.30pm on Friday near Haider Sheikh Gate behind Islamia Faridiya School.

He was later taken to the district hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

Dar owned a hotel and some shops in the town.

The shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed while work in the local court was hit due to the absence of lawyers, officials said.

Immediately after the incident, Kishtwar senior superintendent of police (SSP) Abrar Ahmad Choudhary constituted a

HOTELIER ISTIYAQ AHMAD DAR WAS SHOT IN HEAD BY UNKNOWN PERSONS LATE ON FRIDAY NEAR HAIDER SHEIKH GATE

four-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe the incident, the official said.

The SIT is being headed by the superintendent of police (SP) Parbeet Singh and has deputy superintendent of police (DSP) prosecuting officer Mansoor Sheikh, Kishtwar station house officer inspector Sameer Jillani and Chatroo SHO inspector Haji Mohd Bashir.

Officials said the body of the deceased was handed over to his family for the last rites on Saturday morning and added that personnel have been deployed in the town to maintain law and order.