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Petrol bomb attack injures 3 in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Xinhua, October 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Three persons suffered burn injuries after a truck was attacked by a petrol bomb in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said Saturday.

The attack was carried out in Udhampur town, about 230 kilometers south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian- controlled Kashmir.

"Last night a group of miscreants assembled near in Shiv Nagar area of Udhampur and hurled a bottle containing some combustible material over Kashmiri truck which was on the way from Jammu to Srinagar," a local minister Abdul Rehman Veeri said. "Three persons received burn injuries in the attack."

According to Veeri, the injured persons were immediately rushed to district hospital Udhampur and later on referred to Government Medical College hospital, Jammu.

Reports said traffic in the area was halted in wake of the day- long strike call given by various right-wing Hindu nationalist outfits in Jammu province, to protest hosting of beef party by an independent lawmaker Abdul Rashid Sheikh.

Veeri told region's legislature which is currently in session that three accused persons were arrested and stern action would be taken against the miscreants.

A Srinagar based trade body alliance Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) Saturday accused the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) of declaring an "unofficial economic blockade" against the Muslim majority Valley.

"We are in shock since we heard that a public carrier was attacked and set on fire by unruly elements let loose at Udhampur, " Mohammad Yaseen Khan, chairman of the KEA told a press conference. "The attack was not only meant to damage the goods on way to Kashmir but an attempt to hurt the peace and progress in the region."

Separatists groups have condemned attack and called for opening of road to Pakistan for trade and travel.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars.

Majority of Hindus consider cow to be sacred, and their slaughtering is banned in most Indian states.In Indian-controlled Kashmir ban on cow slaughter and sale of beef is a law imposed by the then autocratic ruler of the region.

As per the law, slaughter of cow is punishable with up to 10 years of imprisonment and fine. The law however was never enforced strictly in the region.

Indian-controlled Kashmir is a Muslim majority region, where beef is being consumed by a vast population.There has been an increase in violence against those accused of breaking the ban.

India's top court on Monday suspended the order of Indian- controlled Kashmir's high court banning the sale of beef in the region for two months.

Last month Mohammad Akhlaq was beaten to death and his son injured by a Hindu mob at Dadri in Uttar Pardesh over rumours that the family was eating beef.

A coalition of pro-India Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and BJP runs local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Endi