Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir): The ongoing probe into the recent militant attack on an Army truck in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir in which five army soldiers were killed and another was injured, on Thursday saw a new twist after a 35-year-old man called for questioning in the case allegedly committed suicide at his house, sources said.
The deceased has been identified as 35-year-old Mukhtar Hussain Shah Parshan, a resident of Nar village in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district. Sources said that Mukhtar was called for questioning in connection with the case along with around 50 other suspects in connection with the case. However, according to the police, Mukhtar committed suicide at his house by consuming some poisonous substance.
Also read: 5 jawans killed in terror attack in J&K's Poonch, militants used grenades to set truck on fire
The family of the deceased man staged a protest and raised slogans against Poonch Police and SOG. The protesters, while accusing the security forces of subjecting the deceased to harassment, blocked the Jammu Poonch road at Batha Durian and closed it for traffic. The family alleged that the deceased was fed up of the harassment owing to repeated summons by the security forces over the years.
Police however denied the allegations saying that the man committed suicide due to family issues. Sources further said that the deceased person was not a suspect in the case but was called for routine questioning along with scores of others. Police on Wednesday arrested a man for allegedly providing shelter to the militants involved in the attack.
According to reports, the the arrested accused identified as Nasir has confessed to the security forces that he provided logistics and shelter to the militants for more than two months ahead of the attack. The attack took place in Tota Gali area of Bhata Dhurian in Bhimbir Gali Sector of Mender Poonch on Apr. 20. The militants are believed to have laid an ambush on the Army truck before opening indiscriminate fire on the Army soldiers and lobbing grenades on the Army truck, which caught fire after the attack.
Five soldiers- four from Punjab and another from Odisha were killed in the attack while another was injured. The truck was said to be carrying vegetables and fruits for a proposed Iftar party at a village in Poonch later in the evening.
