Family Declines Body of Truck Driver Shot by Terrorists in J&K

One of the terrorists involved in the attack is suspected to be a Pakistani, the police said.

File image of an encounter between armed forces personnel and terrorists in Kashmir. 

(Photo: IANS)

The body of a truck driver shot dead by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir arrived in Bharatpur, Rajasthan in the early hours of Wednesday, 16 October, but his family refused to accept it unless their demands for compensation of Rs 50 lakh and the status of martyr for him were met, officials said.

The body of Sharief Khan arrived from New Delhi in an ambulance at 1 am but agitated family members and locals did not let it enter the village, saying their demands should be met first.

The body was then shifted to a mortuary at a hospital in Pahadi town, an official said.

“The family members have refused to accept to body and are demanding the status of martyr, a compensation of Rs 50 lakh and pension to his family. Talks are going on with them,” Tehsildar (Pahadi) Ramkumar Kanwar, said.

Earlier, two terrorists, including a suspected Pakistani national, shot dead the driver of a Rajasthan truck and assaulted an orchard owner in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, police said.

“One terrorist involved in the attack is a Pakistani. An operation has been launched in the area to track down the terrorists,” Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbagh Singh told the media.

The deceased has been identified as Sharief Khan, police said, adding that the terrorists carried out the attack in Shirmal village in desperation as fruit transportation has picked up in the Valley.

The incident came on a day post-paid cellular services resumed in Kashmir after a 72-day communication clampdown following abrogation of Article 370 provisions.

Police said "there was a resentment among the locals over the Monday incidents".

Initial reports had said that the driver died after his truck was set afire by miscreants.

Last week, at least seven people were injured in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar after a grenade attack by terrorists in a market area. The attack had come days after terrorists had thrown a grenade in south Kashmir's Anantnag, injuring 14.