Srinagar: The Chenab valley in the Jammu region continued to remain tense for the second consecutive day on Saturday (July 18) after a civilian was shot and killed in an alleged scuffle with police.Hundreds of mourners visited the home of 30-year-old Arif Hussain in Derana Bhala village in Bhaderwah, who was allegedly shot by police on Thursday night. He was declared dead at Doda district hospital on Friday.The killing sparked a shutdown and protests in parts of Doda and Kishtwar districts, with Hussain’s family, local groups and political leaders demanding an independent investigation into the incident.“I want answers from the police. Why was my husband killed? What was his fault? Why is the blood of poor people so cheap that anyone can make it flow on the roads?” Muneeba Begum, Hussain’s wife, told The Wire over the phone.Eight months pregnant, Muneeba is expected to give birth to their third child. She also has a son, while the couple earlier lost a girl child.Hussain’s killing is not the first tragedy to have visited the family.In 1999, Hussain’s father, a special police officer, was killed by militants when Arif was just three years old. Following his death, Hussain’s mother remarried. Arif was the youngest among two siblings.Muneeba said her husband, who had a mini load carrier vehicle, had accompanied a group of animal traders from the area after they promised to pay him Rs 11,000 for a few days’ work.“He only went to earn some money so that we could manage expenses for my delivery,” she said.She recalled speaking to him for the last time at around 7 pm on Thursday. “He called me and told me he was returning home. He asked me to keep dinner ready.”The killing has ignited a huge outcry from the public, who are demanding swift action against those involved.Bhaderwah and several adjoining areas of Doda and Kishtwar districts remained shut for the second consecutive day on Saturday in protest against the death.Markets stayed closed, roads wore deserted looks and security personnel patrolled the streets as anger over Hussain’s killing continued to simmer.According to an anonymous police account circulating in the media, a special operations group of the Jammu and Kashmir police that had information about suspicious movement in the area set up a checkpoint along the Jaie-Gandoh on Thursday night.Around 11:30 pm, per this account, Hussain was stopped at the checkpoint, after which he allegedly attacked security personnel and attempted to snatch a service rifle, triggering a scuffle. During the altercation, security personnel opened fire, critically injuring him.The Wire tried to contact Doda senior superintendent of police Kartik Shrotriya for comment, but he did not respond. The story will be updated if he responds.According to the medical superintendent of Doda district hospital, Dr Tanveer Ahmad, where the victims were referred, Hussain had bullet injuries in the abdomen, and was declared dead on arrival, while two police personnel had suffered lacerations. Police have claimed that three of their personnel were injured in the incident.For Hussain’s family, however, the official account bears little resemblance to the man they knew.His uncle, Amjad Hussain Bhat, said the family is devastated by the loss.“My brother was killed by militants. Now my nephew, who was the sole breadwinner of his family, has been killed by the police. I don’t understand whom we should approach for justice,” he told The Wire.According to Amjad, Hussain had agreed to accompany the traders because of financial difficulties.“His wife was expecting a child, so he went to work with these people. They promised to pay him Rs 11,000 for three days, but the work stretched to eight days. He thought the money would help him meet the expenses of the delivery.”Describing the condition of the body, Amjad alleged that Hussain had suffered multiple injuries. “His arm and leg were fractured. There were several wounds on his body along with three or four bullet marks. I could not even count them properly because there were so many injuries.”The family has rejected allegations, which were circulating in some sections of the media, that Hussain was involved in bovine smuggling.“Even if someone was involved in cow smuggling, the police should have arrested him and taken legal action. Killing a person merely on suspicion is injustice. We want justice,” Amjad said.He also disputed the police version of events. “They said those accompanying him fled after attacking the police and left him behind. We do not know if the people who were with him are in police custody or not. We have not even spoken to them to understand what happened,” he said.According to the family, Hussain had remained out of mobile network coverage for several days. “He had not spoken to the family after leaving home because there was no network. On Thursday evening, he finally called to say he was coming back.”As news of Hussain’s killing spread, residents of Bhaderwah and adjoining areas staged protests, alleging that he was an innocent civilian.The Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhaderwah, a local religious body, has called for a shutdown – which entered its second day on Saturday – till Hussain gets justice.Authorities have stepped up security deployment across Kishtwar and Doda to ensure that there is no law and order violation.Bhaderwah remained under heavy security deployment, with additional personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force and the Jammu and Kashmir police stationed across the town. Internet services remained suspended for the second consecutive day, while the Army launched a search operation in the nearby Jaie forests.The killing has drawn sharp political reactions.Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti questioned both the police account and the restrictions imposed after the killing.“Reports emerging from Doda about the killing of a civilian, Arif Hussain, who was allegedly stabbed and then shot dead by security forces, followed by an internet shutdown across the district, are deeply disturbing. The administration must act swiftly to establish the facts and ensure accountability. J&K must not be allowed to slide towards a situation where allegations of cow smuggling become a pretext for mob violence and the killing of Muslims,” she posted on X.Kashmir’s chief cleric and former Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also condemned Hussain’s killing by the police.“Deeply disturbed and pained by news reports from Bhaderwah of the killing of a 30-year-old young civilian Arif Hussain by SOG personnel… Such incidents, including the recent killing of Rashid Ahmad Mughal in Ganderbal, are against all norms of human and civil rights and law. They deepen fear and mistrust. Authorities should immediately investigate, fix accountability, make the findings public and punish the perpetrators,” Mirwaiz posted on X.When asked about the demand for a magisterial inquiry, the administration’s response to the prevailing tensions and the allegations of the family that Hussain was killed in cold blood, Doda’s deputy commissioner Krishan Lal declined to comment.“You will get the responses regarding these queries from SSP Doda,” he said and disconnected the call.