Amarnath protestor's suicide sparks violence in Jammu

Thu, Jul 24 03:57 AM

Tension erupted in Jammu on Wednesday following the death of a local youth, who allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison to protest against the Government's decision to revoke the transfer of forestland to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board. Angry mobs put up road blockades and closed down business establishments to protest Kuldeep Kumar's death.

The Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti, which has been spearheading the 24-day long agitation to restore the land transfer order, has called for a Jammu bandh on Thursday. The president of the organization, Leela Karan Sharma, said the deceased became emotional after hearing National Conference president Omar Abdullah's statement during the trust vote in the Lok Sabha on the Amarnath land row.

Superintendent of Police, City North, Randeep Kumar, said a suicide note recovered from Kumar's body that said he was ending his life and that his body should be handed over to his family. Kumar, a jeweler, was a resident of Talab Tillo and lived with his wife and two children.

Eye witnesses said Kumar visited the members of Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti, who were observing a relay hunger strike at the Parade Ground around noon.

He collapsed after he became emotional while reciting a poem. "He had sought permission to recite a poem. He recited Bigul Baj Raha Hai Andolan Ka¿. And then expressed his concern that the pro Amarnath agitation was losing momentum and cautioned people against the presence of traitors among the protestors. Then he collapsed," said an eye witness.

Kumar was rushed to the Government Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Angry protestors carried his body to Parade Ground where the Samiti members were holding a relay hunger strike. A pal of gloom descended at the venue, which turned into a place of mourning.

One of Kumar's relatives said he was a staunch RSS supporter and had been actively participating in the pro-Amarnath agitation for the last one month. "He was hurt over the Government's decision to withdraw land allotted to Amarnath Shrine Board, he got emotional after hearing Omar Abdullah's statement in Lok Sabha yesterday saying that they had got back their land after struggle and will not give it to anybody. This morning, he left home as usual, but no one thought that he would end his life to press the Government to return the land to the Board," he said.

RECOMMEND THIS STORY