KATHUA: Protests sparked over an alleged murder of a man following which Jammu-Pathankot National Highway was blocked in Kathua district late Tuesday evening.
“A man, identified as Ramesh Singh, son of Mani Ram, resident of Ban, Chhann Arorian this evening was allegedly hit by a stick by member of Gujjar community when the duo exchanged heated words over an issue,” police said.
They said that profusely bleeding injured man died on the spot, adding, “The family members and villagers rushed to the spot and shifted the body of the deceased to the National Highway and blocked the road.”
The protestors were demanding arrest of the culprit, who as per police sources, is identified but at large.
Meanwhile, an eyewitness said, “The cattle of the accused reportedly entered into the fields of the deceased and damaged the standing crop, which led to exchange of heated words between them.”
He said that the accused person hit him with a ‘lathi’ (stick) leaving him critically injured and he succumbed.
“The body was kept on the highway by the family members demanding arrest of the accused,” they said adding that situation is tense in village Chhann Arorian of Chadwal in Rajbagh belt of Kathua.
Senior civil and police officers have rushed to the spot to pacify the situation.
“We have registered a case and started the investigation while manhunt has been launched to arrest the accused,” they added.