Jammu Kashmir: Man Ferrying Cattle Goes Missing After Alleged Attack, Protests Disrupt NH-44 | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: A 25-year-old man from Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district has gone missing after he was allegedly assaulted by unidentified assailants while ferrying a cow and two calves, triggering protests and a major disruption on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway.

The victim, identified as Tanveer Ahmad Chopan, a resident of Mundkhal Pogal in Ukhral tehsil, was travelling from Jammu to his native village in a Tata Mobile vehicle when he was reportedly chased by suspected cow vigilantes near Digdool along NH-44 on Sunday.

According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants intercepted his vehicle near Makarkoot, dragged him out, and assaulted him. During the incident, Chopan is believed to have either jumped or been forced into the nearby Nallah Bishlari. He has remained untraceable since.

Senior Superintendent of Police Ramban, Arun Gupta, said police received information around 1:30 pm about unknown persons chasing the victim, who subsequently entered the stream. Based on eyewitness inputs and vehicle details, the victim was identified, and a search operation was launched.

A joint rescue effort involving local police, volunteers, and teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with the Himalayan Quick Response Team (QRT), is underway. However, officials said the body has not been recovered so far.

Authorities have registered a case at Ramsoo police station and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Banihal, to probe the incident. Police sources said four accused persons have been arrested in connection with the case.

Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan and SSP Arun Gupta visited the site to oversee the rescue and investigation efforts.

The incident sparked widespread protests in Ramban district on Monday, with scores of locals blocking the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway at Makarkoot for over four hours. Vehicular movement was severely affected as demonstrators demanded swift action and accountability.

National Conference MLA Sajjad Shaheen, who visited the site, termed the incident “deeply disturbing” and called for a time-bound and impartial investigation. He urged authorities to identify and take strict action against those responsible, while appealing to residents to maintain peace.

MLA Ramban Arjun Singh Raju and senior Congress leader Vikar Rasool Wani also expressed concern, demanding a thorough probe and stringent punishment for the accused.