People defy curfew, hold protests
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 13: People defied curfew in Kishtwar this morning to hold protests seeking immediate arrest of the killers of top RSS functionary Chanderkant Sharma and his PSO Rajinder Kumar on April 9 while police have seized a car used in the killings and identified one of the accused.
Police today seized Alto car No. 2470 JK02AL from outskirts of Kishtwar, which had been used by the militants in reaching the District Hospital Kishtwar to execute the killings and then fleeing towards their hideout, from outskirts of the town.
SSP Kishtwar Shakti Pathak told the Excelsior that the car belonged to Zahid Hussain Daggar son of Ghulam Mohammad Daggar R/o Krussa Soundes, Dachan, presently putting up near Girls Higher Secondary School, Kishtwar.
He was absconding and belie-ved to be involved in the killings, he said, adding efforts were on to trace him.
One of the brothers of Daggar was a militant and was in the jail while his another brother was a surrendered militant.
However, according to police, the targeted killings of the RSS leader and his PSO seem to be handiwork of joint operation by South Kashmir and Kishtwar based militants. Police was in the process of establishing identification of all militants involved in the killings.
Pathak said that police have with them certain leads, which were being pursued to reach to the accused. Arrested suspects were being questioned in this connection, he added.
Meanwhile, the administration today gave no relaxation in curfew in Kishtwar town in view of tension and protests held in the morning while curfew was relaxed in outskirts of the town in phases for one hour from 4 pm to 5 pm. The relaxation period passed off peacefully, sources said.
In the morning, people gathered at various Chowks of Kishtwar town and held protest demonstrations against the killings of the RSS leader and his PSO and police failure to arrest the accused. They called upon the police administration to expedite probe into the killings and ensure arrest of the accused at the earliest.
Protesters, however, dispersed peacefully after about an hour. No untoward incident was reported during the protests as the administration decided to allow peaceful demonstration despite curfew.
Meanwhile, curfew restrictions continued in Kishtwar town for fifth day today. Army also remained deployed in sensitive areas. Curfew was relaxed in the town for an hour in two phases from 4 pm to 5 pm and 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm yesterday. However, no relaxation was given today in anticipation of further protests, sources said.
RSS leader Chanderkant Sharma and his PSO Rajinder Kumar were gunned down by a militant inside the District Hospital Kishtwar on April 9 where Sharma was working as Pharmacist.
The militant had taken with him AK rifle of the PSO.
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