Shopian, Nov 04 (KNS): Day after an elderly man allegedly died during land acquisition drive in Hermain village of south Kashmir's Shopian district, family of the deceased on Wednesday hit Srinagar's abuzz Press Enclave and demanded stern punishment to the persons involved into the incident.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), the family of deceased apperaed in Press Enclave Srinagar along with the dead body of a man who died yesterday allegedly during land acquisition drive in Hermain village.

The family refuted the news reports that deceased died of cardiac arrest, saying he was assaulted by a group of goons on the behest of officials.

On Tuesday few locals including females resorted to stone-pelting on a land acquisition team in Hermain village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district. The team led by Tehsildar Hermain, Block Development Officer Hermain had arrived in the village to take possession of land that is supposed to converted into a sports ground.

The locals pelted stones on them during which an elderly man suffered a "heart stroke" and died on spot. He was identified as 65 year old Abdul Salam Thokar, a resident of Padderpora Shopian.

However, on Wednesday the family of the deceased arrived at Press Colony Srinagar along with the dead body. While talkig to media the family said that even after the death of the man, police failed to file an FIR.

They said till our cries are not heard, family is not going to bury the dead. "We won't bury the dead till action is initiated against those responsible for his death," they said.

"We had a land dispute with another party. Over a dozen people arrived yesterday to occupy the said land. He was manhandled by goons as a result he died," they said.

Lashing out at administration, the family said we want to know on whose behest the government team had arrived in the village who snatched the dead forcibly from us. (KNS)