by Peerzada Arshad Hamid
SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The conductor of a truck from Indian-controlled Kashmir undergoing treatment for burning at a hospital in New Delhi Sunday succumbed to his injuries, a government spokesman said.
Zahid Ahmed Bhat suffered burn injuries in a petrol bomb attack carried out allegedly by the supporters of Hindu fundamentalist groups last week in Udhampur district, about 230 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Zahid Ahmed Bhat succumbed to his injuries which he sustained during an attack on his truck by miscreants in Udhampur a few days ago," the spokesman said. "His body was flown from New Delhi where he was undergoing treatment in Safdarjung Hospital."
Bhat along the with driver of truck were injured on night of Oct. 9 in Udhampur when a Hindu mob attacked their truck during a shutdown in Jammu province called by Hindu groups to protest the hosting of beef party by a legislator.
"There were also rumors of cow slaughter in Udhampur, which were later on found to be false by the government," a police official said.
Reports said Bhat had suffered more than 70 percent burns in the attack and was airlifted to New Delhi for treatment.
No sooner news of Bhat's death reached his native village Batengo in southern district of Anantnag, villagers took to roads in protest and tried to stop traffic on Srinagar-Jammu highway.
The protesters mainly youth clashed with contingents of Indian police and paramilitary.
Government forces fired tear smoke shells and used batons and pepper gas to quell protesters and mourners that had gathered at Bhat's house, locals said.
The petrol bomb attack on truck rocked the region's lawmaking body with the opposition demanding ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) for not disclosing political affiliation of attackers.
India's official broadcaster - All India Radio - said authorities have booked five out of eight accused in the attack, for planning and executing a criminal conspiracy aiming at disturbing peace and public order in the state under a pre-designed and motivated plan.
Separatist groups, trade bodies and transporters have called for a shutdown in the region over Bhat's death, while demanding exemplary punishment to the guilty in the attack.
Indian-controlled Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed expressed deep shock and grief over the death of Bhat.
Bhat's death takes the toll to three in attacks by Hindu groups on Muslims over rumors of beef and cow slaughter.
On Friday a 28-year-old truck driver Noman from Uttar Pradesh was lynched by a Hindu mob at Sarahan in Himachal Pradesh on suspicion of smuggling cows.
Last month 50-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq was beaten to death and his son injured by a Hindu mob at Dadri in Uttar Pardesh over rumors that the family was eating beef.
The majority of Hindus consider cow to be sacred, and their slaughtering is banned in most Indian states.
On Thursday a senior BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar said Muslims living in India should give up consuming beef.
Khattar is also the chief minister of India's Haryana state.
There has been an increase in violence against those accused of breaking the ban.
Indian-controlled Kashmir is a Muslim majority region, where beef is being consumed by a vast population.
Trouble started after the region's High Court ordered enforcement of a decades-old ban on cow slaughter and sale of beef. The order was later suspended by India's Supreme Court.
On Friday the region's High Court set aside its earlier order and asked the government to review the laws which have become redundant.
