8 cops among 12 hurt in clash over last rites of woman in J&K

JAMMU: As many as 12 persons including policemen were injured after violent protest broke out over mysterious death of lady in a village near Nowshera on Tuesday. The protesters alleged that the lady was forcibly converted to Christianity and were against her burial.

Eight cops, including deputy superintendent(operations) Rajouri, Sukhdev Singh was injured due to stone pelting by the mob.

Seema Kumari got married to Rinku Kumar, who later embraced Christianity. They belonged to Sayal village in Nowshera town. Kumari died on Sunday. Her family alleged she was killed and that she was forced to convert to Christianity. They wanted her body to be burnt according to Hindu customs, but Kumar’s family objected to it, insisting that it should be buried.

The woman’s family members and some villagers protested it. Flying into a rage, the protesters torched a makeshift place of worship, two shops, a few vehicles and structures, police said.