Missing Ramban Youth Found Dead After 20-Day Search; Cow Vigilantism Angle Sparks Outrage in J&K
The body of 18-year-old Tanveer Salam, who had gone missing after reportedly jumping into a stream in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district, was recovered on Saturday, nearly three kilometres from the spot where he disappeared on April 12.
Tanveer, a resident of Mundkhal Pogal in the Ukhral tehsil, had been missing for 20 days. His body was eventually located under a large boulder in the Bishleri nullah after the water level receded, allowing search teams to access previously submerged areas.
Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police had been conducting an extensive search operation since the day he vanished.
According to his father, Abdul Salam, Tanveer had been returning home from Jammu when the incident unfolded.
He was travelling in a pickup vehicle, transporting two cows and two calves he had reportedly purchased for dairy purposes.
Near Digdole, along the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway, he was allegedly chased by a group of self-styled cow vigilantes in two vehicles.
The men are said to have intercepted him near Maggarkote and assaulted him.
In a desperate attempt to escape, Tanveer ran towards the roadside and jumped into the flowing nullah. He was not seen again after that moment.
Police officials later confirmed that Tanveer had obtained written permission from the District Magistrate of Jammu to transport the cattle, indicating that his actions were lawful.
News of his disappearance triggered widespread anger in the region. Hundreds of residents from Pogal and nearby villages gathered at Maggarkote, blocking the national highway and demanding swift action against those responsible.
The police have since arrested four individuals allegedly linked to the incident.
The accused—Surjeet Singh, Sandeep Singh, Digvijay Singh, and Kewal Singh—are all residents of Ramban.
Authorities stated that they come from varied backgrounds, including a village headman (lambardar), a cloth merchant, and an employee in a transport company.
The vehicle and the cattle involved have been taken into police custody as part of the investigation.
A Special Investigation Team has been formed to probe the case in detail.
The incident has drawn strong political and public reactions.
Omar Abdullah described the case as a “murder” and warned that such lawlessness would not be tolerated in the Union Territory.
He also urged Manoj Sinha to ensure strict action against those involved.
Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed concern, stating that the incident reflects the growing influence of cow vigilantism in the region and warned of potential repercussions if justice is not delivered.
Local MLA Arjun Singh Raju also condemned the incident, assuring that firm action would be taken against the accused.
Tanveer, who worked as a driver in a factory in Jammu, had been returning home after nearly a month. His last call to his father, early that morning, was simply to say he was on his way back—a journey that tragically never reached its end.
