ABVP, VHP hold bandh demanding dropping of charges against accused
Days after 11 people were booked for allegedly attacking a nomad family on the suspicion of cattle smuggling, Reasi district on Tuesday observed a complete shutdown, protesting against “biased police action”.
On the call given by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), VHP and Bajrang Dal, transporters and trading organisations in Reasi observed a complete shutdown, a local said.
Demanding a “fair probe and revocation of FIR” against the 11 accused, protesters burnt tyres across the city, shouting slogans against the police , he added.
Adequate deployment of police and CRPF has been made in and around the strategic town and army, which has considerable presence in the area, has been kept on stand-by, he said.
Raghav Kesar, state general secretary of the ABVP said, “We demand neutral investigations, which will be possible only after suspension of Reasi SSP Tahir Sajjad Bhat and deputy SP Mujeeb-ur-Rehman. Police have implicated innocent persons in the FIR,” Kesar alleged.
Kesar alleged that police “in nexus with the nomads”, transported 16-17 bovine animals in a police truck on Monday night at around 10 pm, after availing court orders.
“We have video footage to substantiate our claims. There is clear ban on the transportation of bovines during the night and the law says that six and four bovines respectively can be ferried in a truck and medium load carrier respectively, that too, during day time,” he said.
When asked about a 10-year old nomad child who is said to be missing after the Friday attack, Reasi SSP Bhat said that the nomadic family refused to lodge a written complaint with police.