Terrorists target apple truck at Shirmal; kill driver, assault owner

Hours after the government opened mobile phone lines in Kashmir, a civilian was killed by terrorists in Shirmal, Shopian district around 8 PM on Monday.

The truck with Rajasthan registration was ferrying apples. The driver Sharif Khan was shot dead and the orchard owner was beaten up at Shirmal. One terrorist involved in the act is reported to be a Pakistani. the truck driver was in the village for apple loading. Sources in Jammu and Kashmir police say, “While it was largely peaceful, the incident in Shirmal is a reflection of what we have been saying for a while now. Pakistan has been desperately trying to spoil the law and order situation.”

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According to J&K Police, as per the initial investigation, terrorists groups — JeM and HM — are behind this terror act. Sources say that the villagers tried to save the civilian but the terrorists thrashed the villagers as well as killed the driver. An FIR has been registered under sections 151/2019 U/S 364, 342, 302, 307, 459, 435 RPC, 7/27 Arms Act,  Sec 16, 18, 20 of ULA. The police maintain that the investigation is in progress. Search operation was being carried out in the area to track down the terrorists.

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