The bullet-riddled body of a laborer from Bihar was found in Wachi Zainapora area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Friday. The victim’s name is Ashok Chauhan, who hails from Banka district of Bihar and has been living in Sangam, Anantnag. He was found with multiple gunshot wounds.
Kashmir District Inspector General of Police VK Birdi confirmed that the body had been found and said a case has been registered and investigation is ongoing.
“We have registered a case in this matter and further investigation is underway,” he said.
He, however, clarified that the incident was not linked to the recent terror attack in Anantnag where a Territorial Army soldier was abducted and killed as the two incidents took place at different locations.
According to the victim’s colleagues, Chauhan received a call while harvesting corn and left, saying he was going somewhere. When he did not return, his colleagues began searching for him and later learned that his body had been found in a nearby orchard.
The investigating police officer said the case looked suspicious, all necessary medical and legal procedures had been completed and the autopsy report was still awaited. “Locals discovered the body and informed the police, who rushed to the spot and shifted the body to the hospital,” the officer added.
This is the first targeted killing in the Valley since the Omar Abdullah-led government took charge of Jammu and Kashmir on October 16.
On October 10, security forces recovered the devastated body of a Territorial Army (TA) soldier kidnapped by terrorists in Anantnag district.
Identified as Hilal Ahmad Bhat, he went missing from the Sanglan forest area in Utrasoo district of the county.
According to police, two Tajik Army soldiers were kidnapped in the forest area of Anantnag, but one of them managed to escape.
“Two soldiers of the Territorial Army were abducted by terrorists in the Anantnag forest area. However, one of the soldiers has managed to come back,” he said.
