A trucker critically injured in a petrol bomb attack in Udhampur on October 9 succumbed to his injuries in a hospital in New Delhi.

Zahid Rasool Bhat, 19, a truck assistant had received 74 per cent burn injuries with another person on October 9 when a Kashmir-bound truck was attacked by a mob protesting against the beef party hosted by an independent MLA in the summer capital of Srinagar.

The mob had thrown a petrol bomb inside the truck, injuring Zahid and 35-year-old Showkat Ahmad Dar.

Initially, the two injured were evacuated to Jammu hospital from where they were referred to New Delhi’s Safdarjung hospital for specialised treatment.

However, Zahid who according to family had received 74 per cent burns succumbed to injuries late on Sunday morning.

The death has triggered protests in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district where Zahid lived. Spontaneous mobs took to Jammu-Srinagar national highway burning tyres and obstructing traffic.

Shahid Iqbal, district magistrate Udhampur, said, “Nine persons have been arrested so far in the case. Five of those arrested have been booked under the Public Safety Act. We will now register a murder case against the accused.”

Various separatist groups, including the moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq, hardline Syed Ali Shah Geelani and pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front have called for a shutdown on Monday.

Meanwhile, former state CM Omar Abdullah blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies for Zahid’s demise.

Omar asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a series of tweets, as to who would be blamed for the death of Zahid Ahmed.

“The Hon PM passed the buck on to @yadavakhilesh and the UP govt for #Dadri. Who will he blame for #Zahid’s death now?

“Another needless death in the name of #BeefBan for which the BJP and its affiliates including allies are directly responsible,” he tweeted.

Image: Protests broke out in Anantnag, south Kashmir, after Zahid Bhat died after succumbing to his injuries. Photograph: ANI/Twitter

— With inputs from PTI

http://www.rediff.com/news/report/kashmir-beef-truck-attack-victim-dies-violence-erupts/20151018.htm