BHADARWAH: Hundreds of villagers and local residents from Bhadarwah town on Saturday staged a protest against the mysterious death of Anjali Devi a class 12th student.
17-year-old Anjali, a resident of village Runta in Bhadarwah, was found dead under suspicious circumstances near Halyan Nullah in Puneja Forest area on Friday afternoon, two days after she disappeared from her house in mysterious circumstances.
The body of the teenager was found hanging with a Cedar tree in the forest.
Even though the police have not yet found out the exact cause of the death, local residents believe that she was strangled to death by some miscreants.
“Police should take swift action in the case and also the erring Munshi of Bhadarwah Police Station who refused to lodge an FIR in time should be booked. We would not remain silent till the culprits are caught,” said a protestor demanding CBI enquiry.
The protesters after Cremation started protest and even blocked road for some time and also raised slogans against police and civil administration.
The administration especially SDM Bhadarwah Mohd Anwar Banday, Tehsildar Bhadarwah Dr Amir Hussain, ASP Amit Bhasin and SDPO Sardar Sajjad Ahmed Khan had a tough time to pacify the protesters mostly women who had by then Gheroed the police station, demanding that the said Munshi be handed over to them.
After two hours of shouting slogans at administrative complex and adjoining police station, finally protesters were pacified by the administration with the assurance that no one even any official found involved will be spared and soon all the culprits will be behind the bars.
On the call give by Sanatan Dharam Sabha Bhadarwah, members of the particular community observed a complete Bandh and business establishments remained close since morning in solidarity with the aggrieved parents of the victim and also to show their resentment against the incident.
Meanwhile police after arresting three suspects last evening has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of four officers headed by a female IPS officer to investigate the exact cause of death.
“To find out the cause of death an independent SIT consisting of ASP and SHO Bhadarwah, SI Abdul Latief and HC Mohd Riaz shall investigate the case. The SIT shall further keep in touch with Chief Prosecuting Officer (CPO) for legal advice,” said SSP Doda Zahid Naseem Manhas adding that the SIT is on the job and has already visited the spot to gather the evidence.