Ashraf Wani - India Today




A Tehsildar (tax officer) in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district was hospitalised on Wednesday after a shopkeeper mistakenly sold him a bottle of battery acid instead of water.

Official sources told India Today that Tehsildar D H Pora, Niyaz Ahmad Bhat was coming back after destroying poppy cultivation and had asked for a bottle of water to a nearby general store at around 11:00 am today.

“The shopkeeper mistakenly sold him a bottle containing a liquid similar to water, which was battery acid packed in a waste mineral water bottle. The tehsildar drank it, and he felt uneasy, following which he was hospitalised,” said an official.

Niyaz Ahmad told India Today that he was thirsty, and he asked the shopkeeper for a water bottle, but instead, he handed over battery acid.

“I hospitalised myself immediately and also going to Srinagar for further treatment,” he said.

Meanwhile, BMO Damhal Hanjipora, Gulzar Ahmad Dar said that Niyaz Ahmad's condition was stable and has been discharged.

Meanwhile, station house officer DH Pora, Tanveer Ahmad said that the shopkeeper has been arrested and an FIR number 60/2021 under relevant sections of law has been registered against him.