 M S Nazki
Early Times Report
MENDHAR, Apr 19: Angered by the killing two brothers in a cab mishap at Arai Katha near Mandi in Poonch, people today set ablaze the vehicle and raised slogans against traffic police and district administration.
The ill-fated Tata Sumo was on its way from Arai to Mandi. Its seating capacity is not more than 9 but it was carrying 21 commuters, according to police sources.
A few minutes after it left Arai, it skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge. Overspeeding and overloading were stated to be the reasons behind the incident.
Soon after it plunged into the gorge, locals started the rescue operation. Police also joined them later. Two minor children were killed on the spot while 19 others survived with injuries. Cab driver Niaz Ahmad fled the spot and had not been arrested by police till late tonight.
The dead were identified as Mohammad Shafiq (9) and Mohammad Rafiq (7), both sons of Mohammad Sharief of Arai. After post-mortem at sub-district hospital (SDH), Mandi, their bodies were handed over to their family members for last rites.
Nine of the injured were admitted to SDH, Mandi, and four were referred to district hospital, Poonch. The remaining commuters had sustained minor injuries were discharged after first-aid. Seven of the injured were identified as Shoukat Hussain (45), son of Mohammad Sharief of Surankote, Mohammad Din (35), son of Suleman, Mohammad Rafiq (45), son of Mohammad Akbar, Mohammad Akbar (30), son of Mohammad Sharief, Jehangir Ahmad (45), son of Saif Din, his wife Salima Akhtar (40) and Tazim Akhtar (33), wife of Mohammad Sharief, all residents of Arai.
Sources said soon after the news of the death of two minors spread in the area, people gathered on the spot and held a demonstration against traffic police and the district administration. They also set afire the Tata Sumo.
Later, Poonch MLA Shah Mohammad Tantray, ex-MLA Aiyaz Jan, ADC, Poonch, Mumtaz Hussain Choudhary and senior police officers reached the spot and pacified the protesters who agreed to disperse only if the cab service between Arai and Mandi was stopped forthwith.
Deputy commissioner, Poonch, M H Malik has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 20,000 each for the next of kin of the two killed brothers and Rs 2,000 to each of the injured. Aiyaz Jan gave Rs 10,000 to the family of the two killed boys. The deputy commissioner has ordered a probe into the incident. A case in this context was registered at the Mandi police station.
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