• Case registered; investigation underway: IGP Kashmir
• Second incident in past 10 days
Srinagar, Oct 18: A bullet-riddled body of a labourer from Bihar was recovered on Friday in the Wachi Zainapora area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district. The victim, identified as Ashok Chauhan from Banka district in Bihar, had been residing in Sangam, Anantnag, and was found with multiple bullet wounds.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone, VK Birdi, confirmed the recovery of the body and stated that a case has been registered, with investigations underway.
“We have registered a case in this matter and further investigation is underway,” he said.
He, however, clarified that there is no connection between this incident and the recent terrorist attack in Anantnag, where a Territorial Army soldier was abducted and killed, as both incidents occurred in different locations.
According to the victim’s colleagues, Chauhan had received a phone call while they were harvesting corn, after which he left, stating he had to go somewhere. When he did not return, his colleagues searched for him and were later informed that his body had been found in a nearby orchard.
The police officer leading the investigation said the case appears suspicious and that all necessary medical and legal procedures have been completed, with the post-mortem report pending. “Locals found the body and informed the police, who promptly arrived at the scene and shifted the body of deceased to a hospital,” the officer added.
It is the first targeted killing in the Valley after the government led by Omar Abdullah assumed charge in Jammu and Kashmir on October 16.
On Oct 10, security forces recovered the bullet-ridden body of a Territorial Army (TA) soldier, who was abducted alongwith another soldier by terrorists in Anantnag district.
He was identified as Hilal Ahmad Bhat, who went missing from the Sanglan forest area in Utrasoo area of district.
As per police officials, two TA soldiers were abducted from the forest area in Anantnag, however, one of them managed to escape.
“Two jawans of the Territorial Army were abducted by terrorists in the forest area of Anantnag. However, one of the jawans has managed to come back,” he said.
