Murder Case Registered Against Troopers; SSP Bandipora Among 5 Injured In Clashes
MIR TARIQ
Bandipora, June 30: Two youths including a teenager were killed and three injured in Army firing at Markundal village in this north Kashmir district triggering public outrage and massive protests in the area. Police has filed an FIR against unknown army personnel under Section 302 IPC (murder charges) in police station Sumbal. Army said it has begun an investigation into the incident.
The deceased youths have been identified as Irfan Ahmad Ganaie (17) son of Ghulam Nabi Ganaie of Teng Mohalla, Markundal and Tariq Ahmad Laharwal (23) son of Ghulam Qadir of Green Colony, Kundabal, Manasbal.
According to eyewitnesses, Irfan was killed when troopers of Safapora-based 13 RR camp resorted to “unprovoked” firing during routine night patrolling, while Tariq was killed after being shot by army during demonstrations that erupted in the area Sunday morning to protest the killing of Irfan.
A 12th standard student, Irfan, according to family sources, died on the spot after receiving bullets in his abdomen, head and arms.
Abdul Rehman, uncle of Irfan said that they noticed two private vehicles outside their home late at night. “We went outside to investigate, thinking someone was trying to steal their cattle,” he said and added; “Suddenly the soldiers fired a burst of bullets at us. My nephew was hit in his head and he died on the spot,” Rehman said.
Locals said there had been some incidents of thefts in the area and villagers had informed each other to remain vigilant during night hours. They said Army troopers, mostly in civvies, used to make rounds of the village during evening time in civil vehicles.
They said as army come to know that their troopers have killed an innocent civilian in the area, they laid siege around the whole village and didn’t allow anybody to come out of their homes.
“We were not able to rush Irfan to hospital as Army continued firing for about 10 minutes till Irfan breathed his last,” locals said and added that Irfan’s body was lying in a pool of blood outside his house for whole night. “The troopers didn’t even allow us to take the body,” said slain youth’s uncle Rehman.
As the news of Irfan’s killing spread in the area, hundreds of people came out on roads early Sunday morning and staged massive demonstrations.
According to locals, during protests Army again opened fire on the angry protesters killing another youth Tariq Ahmed Laharwal and wounding three others.
They said the Army troopers dragged the body of Tariq into their vehicle and took it away. Fearing public outrage, Army and Police, according to locals, ran away with the body of Tariq and reached Srinagar where it was handed over to Police Control Room.
Tariq had arrived in Markundal village on Saturday evening to attend the marriage of his relative. Witnesses said Army showered bullets on Tariq as he was seeking body of Irfan.
“Nobody from the civil administration or police was accompanying the Army who killed the youths. Had there been presence of police or civilian officers with the army such life damage might have not occurred,” angry locals said.
“They are not allowing anybody to reach the village and even media were not allowed entry here,” local said.
Locals identified the three other youth injured in Army firing as Muhammad Maqbool of Sopore, Abdul Rehman and Ghulam Muhammad of Markundal.
Massive protests erupted at several places in Bandipora district against the killings.
Fresh protests broke out in Markundal, Naidkhai and Sumbal areas of the district after the burial of one of the youth, which left several persons injured including the Superintendent of Police Bashir Ahmad Khan.
A police spokesman said the situation has been brought under control.
“There is no need of magisterial inquiry into the incident as the cause is known that Army has killed two persons,” Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Muhammad Yousuf Zargar said. He said an FIR has already been lodged against Army on murder charges.
According to official sources, two separate cases have been registered against the Army in Police Station Sumbal. While a case under FIR 116/2013 under section 307 has been registered regarding the killing of Tariq Ahmed Laharwal, another FIR no: 15/2013 under section 302 has been registered regarding the killing of Irfan Ahmed Ganaie.
SP BANDIPORA, 5 OTHERS INJURED IN CLASHES
Meanwhile Senior Superintendent of Police Bandipora Bashir Ahmed Khan and five protestors were injured in the continuing clashes between Police, CRPF and the protesters in Markundal village.
As the SSP Bandipora accompanied by Deputy Commissioner, Tehsildar Sumbal and other officers reached Markundal chowk, people protesting there hurled stones at them injuring SSP Bandipora, while five civilians received injuries when police resorted to aerial firing.
Pertinently, security has been stepped up across Indian Kashmir after a series of attacks by militants on security forces in recent months including two last week in Srinagar in which eight soldiers and two policemen were killed.
The attack was one of the deadliest by militants in years and came on the eve of the visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
PROTESTS ERUPT IN EVENING
Police and CRPF contingents on Sunday evening resorted to aerial firing and tear-smoke shelling when people from Naidkhai and its adjoining villages tried to march towards Markundal.
As the protestors reached near a CRPF camp in Markundal, Police and CRPF contingents tried to stop them.
As police and paramilitary troopers tried to chase away the protesters, they responded by pelting stones triggering clashes. In the ensuing clashes, police fired scores of tear smoke shells and resorted to aerial firing, witnesses said.
Meanwhile, people took to roads in Ajas, Papchan, Safapora and Saderkoot and damaged several vehicles moving towards Bandipora where normal life was disrupted till late in the evening.
Official sources told Greater Kashmir that deployment has been beefed up across Bandipora district especially in Sumbal township to control the situation.
Army has been deployed in several places which are being considered as volatile like Asham, Safapora, Naidkhai and Bandipora town, sources said.
2 Youth Killed In Army Firing Lastupdate:- Mon, 1 Jul 2013 18:30:00 GMT GreaterKashmir.com
MIR TARIQ
Bandipora, June 30: Two youths including a teenager were killed and three injured in Army firing at Markundal village in this north Kashmir district triggering public outrage and massive protests in the area. Police has filed an FIR against unknown army personnel under Section 302 IPC (murder charges) in police station Sumbal. Army said it has begun an investigation into the incident.
The deceased youths have been identified as Irfan Ahmad Ganaie (17) son of Ghulam Nabi Ganaie of Teng Mohalla, Markundal and Tariq Ahmad Laharwal (23) son of Ghulam Qadir of Green Colony, Kundabal, Manasbal.
According to eyewitnesses, Irfan was killed when troopers of Safapora-based 13 RR camp resorted to “unprovoked” firing during routine night patrolling, while Tariq was killed after being shot by army during demonstrations that erupted in the area Sunday morning to protest the killing of Irfan.
A 12th standard student, Irfan, according to family sources, died on the spot after receiving bullets in his abdomen, head and arms.
Abdul Rehman, uncle of Irfan said that they noticed two private vehicles outside their home late at night. “We went outside to investigate, thinking someone was trying to steal their cattle,” he said and added; “Suddenly the soldiers fired a burst of bullets at us. My nephew was hit in his head and he died on the spot,” Rehman said.
Locals said there had been some incidents of thefts in the area and villagers had informed each other to remain vigilant during night hours. They said Army troopers, mostly in civvies, used to make rounds of the village during evening time in civil vehicles.
They said as army come to know that their troopers have killed an innocent civilian in the area, they laid siege around the whole village and didn’t allow anybody to come out of their homes.
“We were not able to rush Irfan to hospital as Army continued firing for about 10 minutes till Irfan breathed his last,” locals said and added that Irfan’s body was lying in a pool of blood outside his house for whole night. “The troopers didn’t even allow us to take the body,” said slain youth’s uncle Rehman.
As the news of Irfan’s killing spread in the area, hundreds of people came out on roads early Sunday morning and staged massive demonstrations.
According to locals, during protests Army again opened fire on the angry protesters killing another youth Tariq Ahmed Laharwal and wounding three others.
They said the Army troopers dragged the body of Tariq into their vehicle and took it away. Fearing public outrage, Army and Police, according to locals, ran away with the body of Tariq and reached Srinagar where it was handed over to Police Control Room.
Tariq had arrived in Markundal village on Saturday evening to attend the marriage of his relative. Witnesses said Army showered bullets on Tariq as he was seeking body of Irfan.
“Nobody from the civil administration or police was accompanying the Army who killed the youths. Had there been presence of police or civilian officers with the army such life damage might have not occurred,” angry locals said.
“They are not allowing anybody to reach the village and even media were not allowed entry here,” local said.
Locals identified the three other youth injured in Army firing as Muhammad Maqbool of Sopore, Abdul Rehman and Ghulam Muhammad of Markundal.
Massive protests erupted at several places in Bandipora district against the killings.
Fresh protests broke out in Markundal, Naidkhai and Sumbal areas of the district after the burial of one of the youth, which left several persons injured including the Superintendent of Police Bashir Ahmad Khan.
A police spokesman said the situation has been brought under control.
“There is no need of magisterial inquiry into the incident as the cause is known that Army has killed two persons,” Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Muhammad Yousuf Zargar said. He said an FIR has already been lodged against Army on murder charges.
According to official sources, two separate cases have been registered against the Army in Police Station Sumbal. While a case under FIR 116/2013 under section 307 has been registered regarding the killing of Tariq Ahmed Laharwal, another FIR no: 15/2013 under section 302 has been registered regarding the killing of Irfan Ahmed Ganaie.
SP BANDIPORA, 5 OTHERS INJURED IN CLASHES
Meanwhile Senior Superintendent of Police Bandipora Bashir Ahmed Khan and five protestors were injured in the continuing clashes between Police, CRPF and the protesters in Markundal village.
As the SSP Bandipora accompanied by Deputy Commissioner, Tehsildar Sumbal and other officers reached Markundal chowk, people protesting there hurled stones at them injuring SSP Bandipora, while five civilians received injuries when police resorted to aerial firing.
Pertinently, security has been stepped up across Indian Kashmir after a series of attacks by militants on security forces in recent months including two last week in Srinagar in which eight soldiers and two policemen were killed.
The attack was one of the deadliest by militants in years and came on the eve of the visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
PROTESTS ERUPT IN EVENING
Police and CRPF contingents on Sunday evening resorted to aerial firing and tear-smoke shelling when people from Naidkhai and its adjoining villages tried to march towards Markundal.
As the protestors reached near a CRPF camp in Markundal, Police and CRPF contingents tried to stop them.
As police and paramilitary troopers tried to chase away the protesters, they responded by pelting stones triggering clashes. In the ensuing clashes, police fired scores of tear smoke shells and resorted to aerial firing, witnesses said.
Meanwhile, people took to roads in Ajas, Papchan, Safapora and Saderkoot and damaged several vehicles moving towards Bandipora where normal life was disrupted till late in the evening.
Official sources told Greater Kashmir that deployment has been beefed up across Bandipora district especially in Sumbal township to control the situation.
Army has been deployed in several places which are being considered as volatile like Asham, Safapora, Naidkhai and Bandipora town, sources said.
2 Youth Killed In Army Firing Lastupdate:- Mon, 1 Jul 2013 18:30:00 GMT GreaterKashmir.com
