Ramban: A tense atmosphere has gripped the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir following a deadly incident where a 25-year-old man went missing after being intercepted and allegedly assaulted by a group of cow vigilantes. The confrontation, which occurred on the critical Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions regarding law and order in the region.
The victim, identified as Tanveer Ahmad Chopan, a resident of Mundkhal Pogal in Ukhral tehsil, was travelling toward his home on Friday night, transporting a cow and two calves in a Tata Mobile vehicle. According to reports, as Chopan reached the Makarkote area, his vehicle was stopped by a group of people believed to be members of the Yuva Rajput Sabha.
“Chopan jumped into Nallah Bishlari”
The group intercepted Chopan and launched a violent attack. Eyewitness accounts suggest the situation escalated to a point of desperation; Chopan either jumped into the Nallah Bishlari stream to escape his attackers or was forcibly pushed into the water during the struggle. He has not been seen since and is believed to have been swept away by the roaring waters.
Protestors blocked the Jammu-Srinagar highway
As news of the vigilante attack spread, thousands of residents converged on the highway near Makarkote. The protesters blocked the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, bringing one of the region’s most vital transit routes to a complete standstill. Demonstrators demanded the immediate arrest of all those involved and a guarantee of safety for transporters.
The blockade caused significant logistical disruptions, prompting senior officials, including the Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Ramban, to rush to the site to engage with the grieving and angry public.
Police action and search operations
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have moved swiftly to contain the fallout. Four suspects believed to be involved in the assault have been detained and are currently undergoing intensive interrogation. Authorities have formally registered a case and are thoroughly reviewing CCTV footage from various points along the highway to piece together the sequence of events.
“To manage the escalating tension and prevent the spread of rumours”, the district administration has temporarily reduced internet speeds in the area as a precautionary measure.
The search for Tanveer continues
Despite the arrests, the primary focus remains on the recovery of Tanveer Ahmad Chopan. A large-scale search and rescue operation is currently underway in the Nallah Bishlari and surrounding rugged terrain. Teams comprising local police, specialist rescue units, and local volunteers are scouring the stream, though the challenging geography has so far hindered efforts to find any trace of the missing youth.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as the search enters its second day, with the community vowing to continue their demands for justice until Chopan is found and his attackers are held fully accountable.
Political leaders demand justice
The fallout has reverberated through the halls of political power. National Conference MLA Sajad Shaheen, visibly shaken after visiting the site at Magarkote, described the attack as a calculated strike against the region’s social fabric.
“This was a barbaric act that has no place in a civilised society,” Shaheen said, pointing to reports that Tanveer was chased from Digdole simply for carrying a domesticated animal. “It is a direct attempt to vitiate the hard-earned peace of our peaceful Ramban. I have urged the DC and SSP for a time-bound investigation. Accountability must be fixed.”
The chorus for justice grew louder as MLA Ramban Arjun Singh Raju, PDP’s Iltija Mufti and senior Congress leader Vikar Rasool Wani joined the fray, demanding that the “miscreants” be dealt with through the full force of the law to ensure such vigilantism never takes root again.
Tanveer Hussain was driven to his death by cow vigilantes in Ramban. As if the incident wasn’t distressing enough the culprits are yet to be booked leave alone arrest. Mobile services have been suspended to stop word from spreading. But the truth is gau rakshaks enjoy… pic.twitter.com/NjAVpiJb1D
— Iltija Mufti (@IltijaMufti_) April 13, 2026
“Yuva Rajput Sabha is repeating the cycle of violence”
The anger has moved from the riverbanks to the marketplaces. Shadab Wani, President of Beopar Mandal Banihal, has officially called for a complete shutdown strike in Banihal town on Monday.
Demanding justice for the missing driver, prominent Gujjar and Bakarwal activist Talib Hussain took to social media to call out the Yuva Rajput Sabha. In a viral video, Hussain cited local sources claiming the group’s involvement and alleged that the crime rate in the area has spiked significantly since the Sabha began its operations.