Panic in Batote as bullet injures man

Our Correspondent

Batote, July 17

Panic gripped the town when a man was injured seriously in a mysterious gunfire here today.

Witnesses say they saw Farooq Ahmed of Ward No 2, a vendor, suddenly collapsing on the ground near the highway at Batote-Doda Chowk around 7 am today.

He was immediately rushed to the Batote hospital, from where he was referred to Jammu GMC.

He was immediately operated upon and a bullet was taken out from his body. He is reportedly out of danger.

A crowd gathered on the spot expressing their resentment over the incident. Naib Tehsildar Saifullah Shah reached the spot who was followed by Ramban SSP Mohan Lal, accompanied by ASP Mushtaq Choudhary, DSP (Hq) Imtiaz Ahmed and DIG, CRPF, Rakesh Sethi.

The crowd dispersed after these officers assured them of a discreet inquiry after registering a criminal case.

A reinforcement of JKAP cops was called there to meet any eventuality.

A joint search operation by the police and the CRPF was carried out in the surrounding area, but the mystery still prevails.

SSP Mohan Lal said a case had been registered. He said Ramban Deputy Commissioner Tariq Hussain Ganai had ordered Rs 10,000 ex gratia from the District Red Cross fund in favour of the victim for his treatment.