Kashmiri Teen Attacked in Punjab City Battles for Life After Two Surgeries

New Delhi, 20 Jan 2021 [Fik/News Sources]: A 19-year-old Kashmiri is battling for life in hospital after he was critically injured in an attack by goons in Punjab’s Patiala district on Sunday, police and his colleagues said.

The injured, who works as a catering boy in Patiala city, has been identified as Danish Kumar, a resident of the Dooru area of Anantnag district in Kashmir.

The police have registered a case (FIR No. 21/21) at Kotwali police station on charges of attempt to murder invoking section 307 of the Indian Penal Code, a police official told Clarion India over the phone. “We have launched an investigation into the case and are searching the accused.”

He is currently under medical supervision  in ICU of Rajendra Hospital in Patiala and  has undergone two surgeries since admission , said Umar, a friend of Danish.

The incident, according to Umar, took place at around 9: 30 pm when Danish and his friends went to a salon for hair cut.

“When Danish and his friends left the shop, they were followed by the trio. One of them stabbed Danish in the belly with a scissor injuring his liver,” said Umar. “The attackers were apparently drunk.”

The police official, however, refused to reveal the names of the accused.

Mushtaq Ahmad, a student activist associated with the Jammu and Kashmir Student Association (JKSA) alleged that the police, under the pressure of a local politician, initially shielded the culprits. He said that the police had  nabbed the accused but let them free after intervention of the politician.

Ahmad named three persons involved in the attack — Sukhi, Viru and Lalu.

JKSA spokesperson Nasir Khuehami  said he took up the matter with Raveen Thukral, the advisor to the chief minister of Punjab, and urged him to get the culprits arrested at the earliest.

Speaking with Clarion India, Deputy Commissioner Patiala, Amit Kumar, said that his administration will do whatever has to be done. “They (referring to the victim and colleagues) are humans and there is no second thought about it,” Kumar said.

Meanwhile advisor Thukral said in a Tweet that the accused has been arrested. He added that the Senior Superintendent of Police Patiala told him there was no pressure of any sorts.

Khuehami appreciated the quick response of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.