Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Sept 24: The local people from Palma village on Rajouri-Kotranka road held strong protest and blocked road for over four hours after a woman employee of Health Department was crushed to death under an Army truck at the village this afternoon.
A police spokesman said that mishap took place when young Khatija Begum, wife of Mohd Aslam, resident of village Chaddan was coming to Rajouri from Kotranka side on the bike with her husband. At Palma Morh, their bike was hit by an Army vehicle and she was crushed to death on the spot. She was working as FMPHW at Rajouri hospital.
Immediately after the mishap at around 2.45 pm, the locals of the area blocked road and started protest. They also gathered around Army truck and asked the driver to come down and informed police on phone about the accident. The people got agitated over the tragic death of young lady in mishap. Some more jawans and a Lt Colonel from the nearby Romeo Force unit also arrived there. There had been some heated exchanges between the Army men and civilians. The matter took ugly turn when the agitating villagers were allegedly abused by an Army Officer of Lt Colonel rank. The villagers got more agitated and they damaged the vehicle and also released air from the tyres of the truck and flattened them. They also tried to set the Army truck on fire but Army men issued warning to open fire if they go for it. The situation became explosive there.
SHO Rajouri, Tehsildar and Assistant Commissioner reached there to pacify the public but they refused to buzz. The body was shifted to district hospital at around 3.30 pm. The people continued protest on the road and stalled the movement of all the vehicles including Army on Rajouri-Kandi-Budhal Road. They raised loud slogans against Army and demanded arrest of the Army driver and action against Army officer for abusing therm.
At around 7.15 pm, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, S A Bhat and SSP Dr Haseeb Mughal reached the spot. Huge gathering was witnessed at the site and the people were full of anger raising loud slogans. The officers talked to senior Army officers also. The police arrested the driver and registered a case. The DC assured to hold inquiry into the matter and lodge an FIR against the Army officer who threatened to shoot them and also abused. The people then cleared the road at around 7.30 pm and allowed movement of the vehicles.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel