Banihal, Apr 13: Tension persisted in the Ramsoo area of Ramban district on Monday after a 25-year-old youth, Tanveer Ahmad Chopan of Pogal, went missing on Sunday evening after allegedly jumping into Nallah Bishlari while trying to escape from suspected miscreants.
The incident triggered widespread outrage, with locals staging a protest on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) near the BDO office at Makerkoot. Men and women joined the sit-in from Monday morning, blocking traffic for over an hour and causing significant disruption along the busy highway.
Police have registered a case FIR No. 26/2026 at Ramsoo Police Station and arrested four persons in connection with the incident. The accused have been identified as Surjeet Singh, Sandeep Singh, Digvijay Singh, and Keval Singh—two residents of Seri Ramban and two from Ramban town. Officials said the accused are currently lodged at Banihal Police Station.
According to locals, Chopan was travelling from Jammu to his home in Mundkhal, Pogal, when he was allegedly chased and assaulted near Makerkoot by a group suspected to be cow vigilantes. In an attempt to escape, he reportedly jumped into the Nallah Bishlari near Makarkoot tunnel number 5 and has remained untraceable since.
Protesters demanded the arrest of all those allegedly involved in the vigilante group and called for the immediate resumption of the rescue operation in Nallah Bishlari, which they claimed had been halted since 9 PM on Sunday due to darkness. They also raised concerns over transparency, alleging that the arrested persons were not kept at Ramsoo Police Station and that a copy of the FIR had not been provided to the public.
To investigate the incident, SSP Ramban Arun Gupta have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by SDPO Banihal Surinder Singh Biloria. Senior officials, including Additional SP Ramban Mujeeb-ur-Rehman and SDM Ramsoo, visited the protest site and urged demonstrators to call off the agitation and restore traffic movement.
Speaking from the spot, SIT head Surinder Singh Biloria told Greater Kashmir that investigations into all aspects of the case have been initiated. “Public allegations will be addressed and investigated, and the circumstances under which the young man jumped into the stream will be thoroughly examined,” he said, appealing to people to cooperate with the police and avoid blocking the highway.
He further confirmed that a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has reached Makerkoot to assist in the rescue operation, which was suspended on Sunday night due to darkness but has since been resumed.
Meanwhile, authorities have slowed down internet services across Ramban district to curb the spread of rumours and maintain law and order.
Earlier, president Traders federation Banihal Engineer Shadab Ahmad Wani had called for a shutdown in Banihal on Monday in protest against the incident. However, the strike call was withdrawn late Sunday night following assurances from the administration regarding a fair and transparent investigation.
