SRINAGAR: At least six persons sustained injuries, three of them critically, after a group of cattle strayed in bhang cultivation in the upper forest area in Lolab on Saturday evening, family members of the injured persons alleged.
The incident took place in Forest Compartment number 40/41 in Nagmari Bomach between two rival communities belonging to Dardpora and Divar Dilbagh Kakkarpati.
Mohammad Maqbool Chakbari alleged the Divar Dilbagh Kakkarpati residents of attacking his community members after several of their cattle strayed into bhang cultivation belonging to the former community. “They (Divar Dilbagh Kakkarpati group) attacked us and injured our six persons”, Chakbari said, adding that three of the injured have been referred to District Hospital Baramulla in critical conditions.
Identifying the critically injured as Mohammad Yousaf Awan, Mushtaq Ahmad Chugta, Mohammad Maqbool Chugta he further said that Gudi Begum wife of Riyaz Ahmad, Zainab Noor wife of Shah Jahan and Shakeela Begum wife of Bashir Ahmad Shiekh have received less severe injuries.
Seconded by his colleague Abdul Hamid Chugta said that they have moved a complaint into the incident in Police Station Lalpora.
Quoting a police official news agency GNS reported that a case in this regard was under process – when this report is being filed.
The incident has given fresh impetus to the demand by locals, seeking for stringent and fool-proof action against the bhang cultivators in the area, who according to them have encroached upon large patches of forest land.
