The cruel murder of a jeweler by his fellow villagers at Chadoora has shaken the area and an infuriated mob set the houses of the accused on fire. Nazir Ganaie reports
The case of Nazir Ahmad Dar, who after being murdered by his fellow villagers was found at nearby Dalipora (Nagam) has frightened the people living in the township. The people in the area according to the locals have started suspecting every other person entering into any business deal now.
Police claimed to have cracked the murder of a jeweler, Nazir Ahmad Dar, who also was the zonal vice-president of opposition Peoples Democratic Party. Three persons, including a father-son duo, have been arrested.
Hundreds of people, including a large number of women, took to streets at Badipore in protest against the murder.
“Why is this happens here if the police are present in large numbers,” asked a local teacher.
The area is a strong hold of the ruling national conference leader and state Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather, who visited the area to take the stock of the situation.
The town observed complete shutdown while vehicular traffic in the area came to a standstill. Police and paramilitary CRPF were deployed in large numbers to maintain peace.
However, on learning about the accused, a group of agitated youth swooped on Dalipora between Chadoora and Badipore and set ablaze two residential houses, a cowshed and a shop belonging to the accused. Local elders fear group clashes between the workers of NC and PDP, which the local administration denied.
“There was nothing like the area being thrown into the group clashes. If such was the case why would finance minister be on toes to take the stock of the situation,” Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, Muhammad Rafi told Kashmir Life.
At the main market at Chadoora, police had to resort to cane charge followed by tear smoke shelling and firing in the air to disperse the agitated crowd.
The protesters also stoned the vehicle of deputy commissioner who tried to persuade the mob to disperse. Though the windscreens of the vehicle were damage, police escorted the official to safety.
Reports said several protesters were injured in the clashes between them and police.
Senior superintendent of police, Budgam, Uttam Chand, told Kashmir Life that on Sunday (January 22), the family of Nazir Ahmad Dar, goldsmith by profession, son of Abdul Gaffar of Badipora, had lodged a missing report at police station, Chadoora. His body was recovered under a culvert at Dolipora (Nagam).
Chadoora police has registered a case under FIR No 10/2012 under section 302/ RPC and started investigation. The body was handed over to the family after autopsy.
During investigations, the SSP said police had zeroed in on three suspects, including a father-son duo: Hilal Ahmad Yatoo son of Ghulam Qadir (shopkeeper), his father, Ghulam Qadir Yatoo son of Abdul Karim, and Shabir Ahmad Lone son of Abdul Aziz Lone, all residents of Dalipora (Nagam) and took them into custody. On their questioning, it was revealed the trio had killed Dar allegedly for the golden ornaments he kept in his shop.
The SSP said Hilal and Shabir had been watching Dar’s movements for the past 20 days and seen him always walk home from Badipore to Ratherpora in the evening.
The accused duo allegedly planned to take away the locker keys from the deceased but prior to that wanted to confirm the quantity of golden jewelry in the shop. They decided to buy gold items from him to know the quantity of gold being kept in the locker.
A few days ago, the SSP said, Hilal and Shabir went to Dar’s shop to purchase gold items for the former’s marriage and bought jewelry worth Rs 84,000 paying Rs 50,000 in cash besides a post dated cheque for Rs. 17,000 and asked the deceased to collect the balance of Rs. 17,000 from his residence.
On Saturday, the SSP said, Hilal Ahmad called up the deceased to collect the money from his residence. On Dar’s arrival, Hilal’s father, Ghulam Qadir Yatoo, rang up Hilal to come home and pay Rs 17,000 to him. After having a cup of tea, the deceased took the money.
As soon as the deceased came out of Hilal’s house, Shabir Ahmad, who was hiding in a tin shed adjacent to the house of the co-accused, allegedly struck Dar with an iron rod killing him on the spot.
The three accused concealed Dar’s body in the tin shed under wooden shavings.
Taking out the keys of shop and locker from Dar’s pocket, the accused put his body in a gunny bags at night and dumped it under the culvert at Dalipora Nagam. An iron rod used for commission of the offence and the shop keys have been recovered from the accused, police said. The further investigation is going on, the SSP said.
“We are working on many vices in these areas and police is trying to get hold of all the criminals in the areas,” said the SSP Budgam.
Asked why police failed to protect the property of the accused in which their two houses and cow sheds were set ablaze, SSP said
“We tried to deal it legally and we have already filed an FIR in this regard. The investigation is on and we will make further arrests soon,” said the SSP.
