STATE TIMES NEWS
DODA: A complete shut-down was observed at Thathri, while Hundreds residents from the town and its adjoining areas blocked Batote-Doda-Kishtwar National Highway (NH1B) in protest against the death of young housewife, who was charred to death in mysterious fire yesterday.
The protesters who are alleging some foul play by the in-laws of the deceased woman, demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) should be formed immediately to investigate, what they call inhuman act.
23 year-old Shaista Begum, who was married to Abdul Hamid for the last two years, was charred to death under suspicious circumstances at her house on Friday afternoon, two days after she reportedly lodged a complaint at police station Thathri against her in laws for domestic violence.
The police has registered a case under section 302 RPC and arrested husband and father in law of the deceased identified as Abdul Hamid and Khursheed Ahmed respectively.
“Our protest is to show solidarity with the family of Shaista, police should take strict action in the case and also form SIT to punish the culprits at the earliest,” said, a protestor and social worker Sajjad Wani.
Hundreds of vehicles got stranded on both sides of the highway town as protesters blocked the road at main market Thathri since morning demanding an SIT to probe the case. The administration especially ASP Bhadarwah Sargun Shukla, SDPO Gandoh Bhushan Kumar Ganjo and Tehsildar Thathri had a tough time to pacify the protesters mostly women. After six hours of shouting slogans and blocking Batote Kishtwar National highway, finally protesters were pacified by the administration and road opened after the assurance that SIT will be formed and soon all the culprits will be behind the bars. ” We have already registered a case and to find out the actual cause of death an independent SIT has been already formed headed by me for quick disposal of the case ,” said ASP Bhadarwah Sargun Shukla adding that the SIT is already on the job and has visited the spot to gather the evidence.
