NL Correspondent
RAMBAN, JULY 17: Panic gripped Batote town when a man was injured seriously in a mysterious gun fire early morning today.
Some witnesses saw the injured identified as, Farooq Ahmed of Ward No.-2, a vendor, suddenly collapsing on the ground beside the highway at Batote- Doda Chowk around 7 am today.
He was immediately rushed to the Batote hospital wherefrom after confirming through an X-Ray that a bullet had pierced from the left side of his abdomen which was found embedded on his right side of abdomen, he was referred to the GMC, Jammu.
He was immediately operated upon there and reportedly a bullet was taken out from his body. He was reportedly out of danger.
Soon, the panicked people gathered at the spot and expressed their resentment over the incident.
The Naib-Tehsildar, Saifullah Shah reached the spot who was followed by the SSP, Ramban, Mohan Lal accompanied by ASP, Mushtaq Choudhary, DSP(Hq), Imtiaz Ahmed and later the DIG, CRPF,vRakesh Sethi.
The crowd dispersed after these officers assured them of a discreet enquiry after registering a criminal case.
A reinforcement of JKAP cops were also immediately called there to meet any eventuality.
A joint search operation by the Police and the CRPF was carried out in the surrounding area but the mystery still prevails.
Reportedly, the residents residing near a CRPF bunker situated beside the NH44 about 400mt (crow-fly distance) from the spot told the police that they had heard a gunshot around the same time.
They suspected that it might be an accidental fire and a stray bullet might have hit the victim.
SSP, Mohan Lal told media men that a case has been registered and an investigation started into the incident.
He said that the Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Tariq Hussain Ganai has ordered for the payment of Rs.10,000 ex-gratia from the District Red Cross fund in favour of the victim for his treatment.