ibn sultan
SRINAGAR: A wave of grief and tension swept through Dharamgund village in South Kashmir’s Tral area after the body of a Sikh youth, Surjeet Singh Shanty, son of late Foja Singh, was found hanging from a tree in the vicinity of his home on Monday evening.
The discovery has left the local community shaken, particularly as Dharamgund is one of the few villages in the region with a significant Sikh population. The circumstances surrounding Surjeet’s death remain unclear, prompting widespread concern and speculation among residents, who fear foul play.
Early Tuesday morning, locals staged a protest in the village, calling on authorities to expedite the investigation and ensure transparency in the process. Residents, along with the family, have demanded that the incident be treated with utmost seriousness, given the sensitive communal context of the region.
Community representatives have also voiced their alarm. Sardar Channi Singh, a Sikh leader, termed the death “deeply disturbing” and called for a fair, impartial, and time-bound probe. “This is not just a personal loss, it raises serious questions that demand immediate answers,” he said, while urging the public to remain peaceful and allow the law to take its course.
Singh said he had spoken to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Awantipora, Sajad Ahmad, who assured him that the case was being investigated thoroughly. According to Singh, both the postmortem and forensic procedures have already been conducted and are expected to play a key role in determining the cause of death.
Meanwhile, local authorities have said that senior officers will visit the area to address the community’s concerns. They have promised that the case will be handled with diligence and transparency.
