Army kill 2 Bandipora youths, police files murder case

No need for probe, culprits known: DC

BURHAN KHAN

Srinagar, June 30 (GNS): Massive protests broke out in Sumbal area of Bandipora in North Kashmir following the death of two persons in alleged army firing. Police have registered a case for murder against the army with administration maintaining that there was no need for any probe into the incident as ‘culprits are known.”

Sources told Global News Service that army’s 13 RR killed an 18-yr-old Irfan Nabi Ganie son of Ghulam Nabi around 3 a.m. Sunday without any provocation at Markundal area of Sumbal.

Parvaiz Ahmad Ganie, cousin of the victim, said that army killed Irfan soon after he came out of his home around 3.0 a.m. following rumours that thieves were moving around in the village.

“Thinking that someone was trying to steal their cattle, he went outside his home but army soldiers fired a burst of bullets at him,” he said, adding, “They did not even allow us to take him to the hospital.”

The army, he said, remained stationed for more than an hour before pulling up around 4:30 a.m.

Sources said that as soon as the news broke out in the area, hundreds of people took to streets around dawn.

Announcements were also made over loudspeakers of the mosques about the killing of youth and hundreds of people from adjoining areas started rushing towards the village where the innocent, an ambitious student, was killed.

The angry protesters which include women and children came across army vehicles and reportedly attacked them with stones.

The army again opened fire, targeting the protesters. Three persons sustained wounds and of them identified as Tariq Ahmad Lehrwal(27) son of Ghulam Mohidin of Kundbal Mansbal succumbed to injuries before being admitted to hospital.

The protesters then took both the bodies along and started a march towards office of the Deputy Commissioner situated at main Bandipora chowk.

However, as the protesters were marching ahead, officers of district administration and police intercepted them and promised action against the guilty.

Later, the slain youths were laid to rest at their ancestral graveyards in Markundal, Sumbal and Kundbal, Mansbal in Ganderbal respectively.

Later clashes between youths and police broke out at several places including Nadi Khai, Sumbal, Markundal, Kundbal and its adjoining areas. Police fired several tear smoke shells at Markundal, Kundbal and Naidkhai. At least 12 persons were injured in the clashes including SSP Bandipora Bashir Ahmad Khan. The situation in the area was very tense when this report was filed.

Chairmen of his faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani also addressed the funeral processions through telephone, locals said.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday filed a murder case against army’s 13 RR for the killings.

Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora M Y Zargar told Global News Service that an FIR under 115/2013 under section 302 PRC has been registered against army.

He said that there was no need to initiate any sperate probe into the incident other than police investigation.

“The culprits are already known and they will be identified and appropriate action taken,” he said. (GNS)