A group of Bakarwal headsmen suffered devastating losses when an army vehicle hit their caravan killing 13 of their horses on the spot in Frisal area of southern Kashmir’s Kulgam district early Sunday morning.
Abdul Wahid, one from the group told Rising Kashmir, “a ‘bandh vehicle’ of army first hit a few horses along the main road and then reversed and hit more horses again and killed 13 of our horses. Three horses are also badly injured.”
Residents confirmed the incident to Rising Kashmir, saying “they can see eight dead horses lying on the road near Damidola crossing.”
The nomadic Bakarwals traditionally migrate around the beginning of autumn from the northern mountain pastures to south for the winters. The group was on its way from Pahalgam to Rajouri, Wahid said, adding “two of our men are also missing since the incident.” He identified them as 25-year-old Salim and Mohammad Khan, 35.
Wahid said the army persons fled the spot soon after the horses were killed and they were being looked after by the locals.
The Bakarwal group have registered a complaint at a police post in Frisal, but Wahid said no one from there came to check the spot until noon.
When contacted Defense PRO, in Srinagar, Col Rajesh Kalia he categorically refuted the incident. “Army is not involved in any such incident,” Kalia said.