Banihal, May 02: The body of a 22-year-old youth, missing for nearly 20 days, was recovered on Saturday from Nallah Bishlari near Kraalna Digdool in Ramban district, bringing a tragic end to an extensive multi-agency search operation.
The deceased has been identified as Tanveer Ahmad Chopan, son of Abdul Salam Chopan and a resident of Mundkhal Pogal. He had reportedly gone missing on April 12 after allegedly jumping into the stream near Makarkoot along the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway while attempting to escape from a group of suspected cow vigilantes.
According to reports, Tanveer was travelling from Jammu with a milch cow and two calves when he was allegedly intercepted and chased by a group of individuals in two vehicles near Digdool. Fearing for his life, he reportedly leapt into Nallah Bishlari and remained untraced since.
Soon after the incident, a massive search operation was launched by the police and local volunteers, later joined by teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Army, QRT Ramban, Himalayan QRT, Ramsoo, QRT Khari , NGO Banihal Volunteers, Red Cross Banihal, and Doda-based NGO Ababeel. Despite treacherous terrain and strong water currents, the search continued relentlessly for 20 days.
Officials said the body was finally spotted in the stream near Digdool on Saturday and subsequently retrieved by rescue teams. The body, which was in a decomposed state, is being shifted to a hospital for medico-legal formalities.
Police have already registered a case in connection with the incident and arrested four accused persons—Surjeet Singh, Sandeep Singh, Digvijay Singh, and Keval Singh, all residents of Ramban town and adjoining Seri areas.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by SDPO Banihal Surinder Singh Biloria, has been constituted to probe the case. “The body has been recovered from the Digdool area and is being taken to hospital for legal formalities,” the SDPO Banihal Surinder Singh Biloria said, adding that further investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, the incident has sparked grief and outrage among the victim’s family, who alleged that the chase and harassment led to his death. They have demanded a fair and impartial investigation along with strict action against those responsible.
