Mob beats Kashmiri trucker in Jammu, Police rejects Claim

A Kashmiri truck driver was ruthlessly beaten by a mob after sprinkling petrol on his vehicle and threatening to set it ablaze in Bhathindi area of Jammu late Monday evening.
The injured truck driver sought help from the flying squad of Jammu police but was asked for a bribe instead “by drunk cops”.
Showkat Ahmad Lone, son of Ghulam Hassan of Qimoh (Kulgam) had gone to Jammu driving his truck bearing number JK03E-3152. His cousin Muzaffar Ahmad Lone was driving another truck bearing number JK03E-4908, which also came under heavy stone pelting from the mob, but he managed to escape unhurt.
“They were carrying saw dust to be delivered in Jammu. They left home Monday morning,” Showkat’s elder brother Ijaz Lone told Kashmir Post.
Ijaz said they got a phone call from Showkat late last evening informing them about the attack.
“We came under stone pelting and were stopped by a group of goons while we were approaching Malik Market Masjid in Bhatindi. Muzaffar managed to escape but I was stopped and thrashed ruthlessly while they sprinkled petrol on my truck and threatened to set it ablaze,” Ijaz quoted his brother Showkat as saying.
Showkat told his family that he was hit in the head and the wound had to be closed with 10 stitches.
“Fearing that he might die, the mob left him,” Ijaz said, adding that Showkat drove his vehicle out of the area and looked for police help.
Showkat did find a flying squad of the police near Kunjweni in nearby Narwal. “But he was asked for a bribe by the drunk policemen forcing him to leave the spot and look for medical help,” Ijaz said.
Showkat has told his family that some other truckers from Kashmir also came under stone pelting but they managed to speed their way out.
SP South Jammu, Shahzad Ahmad Salaria told Kashmir Post that there has been no such incident in the area as claimed by the trucker.
“And why should they go to report it some 6 kilometers from the place of the incident. They should have reported it at the nearby police post. Besides, we are patrolling day and night here. We do not let such incidents tale place in the area,” Salaria said.
The families of truckers from Qaimoh and some adjoining areas are worried for their kin. “In desperation we will be forced to go out and attack truckers from Jammu. They should not think they will get away after attacking our brothers in Jammu,” said one of the family members.