Srinagar, Oct 18: Clashes broke out in Kashmir today within hours of the news that Zahid Ahmad -- the trucker driver who was attacked with a petrol bomb in Udhampur following beef rumours around 10 days ago -- has died at a hospital in Delhi.
Angry protesters hurled stones at the police, who used tear gas and batons to drive back the protesters at a village in Anantnag district, where Zahid was from.
Zahid had suffered over 60% burns injuries when his truck was attacked with a petrol bomb and set on fire on October 9. The attack was carried out in Jammu's Udhampur after rumours that three cows were killed in the area. At the time, Zahid and his helper, Showkat, were on their way to Srinagar. Both had been moved to Delhi for treatment.
Officials said tests had revealed the cows had died because of food poisoning and the rumours of slaughter were created to create communal tension in the Hindu-majority area.
The attack had rocked Jammu and Kashmir assembly, with the opposition National Conference blaming the BJP and targeting the government for not disclosing political affiliation of attackers.
The controversy over beef has rocked the state with massive protests held in September.
Earlier this month, the state's independent lawmaker Engineer Rashid was thrashed by a group of his BJP colleagues for hosting a beef party, leaving the People's Democratic Party - which is ruling the state in alliance with the BJP - red-faced.
The trouble had started with a High Court order to enforce a decades-old law banning cow slaughter and the sale of beef in the state. It had worsened after the September 28 incident in Dadri, in which a man was lynched after rumours of cow slaughter and beef consumption. On Friday the court set aside its earlier order and asked the government to review the laws which have become redundant.
But Mr Rashid dubbed the attack on Zahid "Dadri 4," in which "someone reportedly poisoned a few cows and they got after these people and butchered them".
"The government has shown untter carelessness from Day 1," he added.
"Why did they not punish the accused? I returned the compensation to Mufti saheb (chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed). Nobody from administration or government approached us," said Zahid's cousin.
Officials say seven men were arrested for the attack on Zahid -- five of them were booked under Public Safety Act. The kingpin, however, is still at large, they said.
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