The curfew in violence-hit Bhadarwah town of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir continued for the second consecutive day Friday after a middle-aged man was shot dead by a group of cow vigilantes on Wednesday night.
 
“There is no relaxation in the curfew, and it remains to continue for the second day too on Friday. Overall situation in the town remained peaceful,” an official said and added that additional forces have been rushed from Jammu and other neighbouring districts.
 
Late Wednesday night, 50-year-old Nayeem Shah, a resident of Bhaderwah, was shot dead while another person was injured after they were fired upon by a group of cow vigilantes who “seemed to have laid the vigil” at Nalthi to prevent “cow smuggling.”
 
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Doda, Shabir Ahmad Malik, said that the police have detained eight suspects in the incident.
 
Reports said that violence erupted across the town as soon as the news of the death spread across the region forcing authorities to clamp curfew. The authorities have suspended mobile internet services across Bhaderwah, as there is fear of communal violence in the area.
 
A local from the area told DH over the phone that cow vigilante groups operating in the area have been harassing people for a while. “Separate groups of 10-15 people operate in many areas of Bhaderwah and harass the people. They lay vigil on the roads and prevent people from trading cattle legally. The administration should take strict action against those who are responsible for terrorising the people,” he demanded.
 
Bhaderwah, alongwith neighbouring Kisthwar town, is a communally sensitive district. On 9 August 2013 at least two persons were killed, while dozens’ others were injured and property worth cores burnt down when communal clashes broke out during Eid celebrations in Kishtwar district.