Forces ‘thrash’ butcher for selling beef
Pulwama: The residents of Litter area of Pulwama on Saturday staged protests after a local butcher was allegedly beaten to pulp by the forces for selling beef in the area.
The locals took to streets and blocked Sangam road for hours at Rakh Litter after the news about the thrashing of a local butcher spread in the area.
Sources said that the butcher identified as Subzar Ahmed Mir, son of Gulam Mohammad Mir resident of Rakh litter Pulwama was allegedly beaten to pulp by the forces for selling beef in the area.
Subzar Ahmed said that at around 10:20 am he was busy in his work at his shop when army men barged into his shop and started beating him without any provocation.
He added that they dragged him and thrashed him outside his shop.
However, the locals present in the area resisted following which the army men left the spot in a jiffy.
He said that Army men were saying that they won’t allow him to sell beef here.
“I am selling beef here for over 10 years now but never faced any threat,” he added.
Eye witnesses said that hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on the road for hours while the shops were also closed in the area.
Locals while demanding justice, termed the incident as ‘direct interference in their religious affairs’.
“Our religion permits us to eat beef and nobody can stop us from eating it,” they said.
Locals alleged that in August this year, some other shopkeepers were also beaten by forces without any provocation.
A group of students who were supposed to appear in the 10th annual examinations today said that they had to face tremendous hardships as the blockade of road by the protesters forced them to walk over 5 kms by foot to reach their examination centre.
Duty Officer Lassipora, Sarfaraz Ahmed said, “The investigation in this regard has been started.”
He said that locals who were protesting on the road were pacified to lift the dharna.
Ahmad further assured that such incidents won’t happen in future.
KV Correspondent
