Kashmir-bound truck attacked in Udhampur, six arrested

Udhampur: Three persons, including a policeman, received burn injuries when a Kashmir-bound truck was attacked with a petrol bomb in the district following which six persons have been arrested.

"CCTV footage helped us nab two persons who were seen throwing combustible substance on a Kashmir-bound truck at Shiv Nagar area of the district," Deputy Commissioner (DC) Udhampur, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, told PTI.

After the questioning of the two accused, they revealed the identity of four more persons who were involved in the attack on the truck last night, he said.

"All the six accused have been arrested and booked under various sections of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) including under the section of inciting communal tension in the state," he said.

Three persons, including a policeman, driver and conductor received burn injuries when two persons first broke the front glass of the truck and later threw a petrol bomb inside the truck late last night, a police officer said.

Three persons were sleeping inside the truck at the time of the incident, the officer said.

The truck was on its way to Srinagar from Jammu and was stationary since yesterday near Shiv Nagar area as traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was stopped in view of the day-long strike called by various Hindu outfits following recovery of three carcasses of cows in the district.

He said that two persons in the truck Zahid (19) and Showkat (35) received serious burn injuries and a policeman who tried to help douse the fire also received some burn injuries in the incident. The injured were first shifted to the District Hospital Udhampur and later referred to Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Jammu.

Three districts of Jammu region including Udhampur, Kathua and Reasi observed a complete strike yesterday after three carcasses of cows were found behind the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in Chenani area of Udhampur district.

The strike was also called to protest against Independent MLA Engineer Rashid's 'Beef Party' in Srinagar.

Another carcass of a cow was today recovered from Gandala area of Udhampur district. However, the administration said the cow had died a natural death.

"Today, carcass of another bovine animal was recovered in the district but the veterinary doctors on examination found that it was an old carcass and the animal had died a natural death. Local residents agreed with it," the DC said.