J&K police has registered a murder case against an army’s unit in Shopian district for killing two youth and injuring nine others in its firing. A senior police officer said that the FIR has been registered against army’s 10 Gharwal unit based in Shopian for opening fire and killing two youth. The FIR reads that the army unit led by its major opened fire on a group of youth resulting in the death of two at Ganowpora, Shopian.
“Case has been registered (against army unit) under sections, 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 336 (endangering life) of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC),” reads the FIR, a copy of which is with Greater Kashmir. “The soldiers resorted to indiscriminate firing resulting in the injuries to many youth of which two youth later succumbed.”
On Saturday afternoon, two youth—Javaid Ahmed Bhat and SuhailJavaid, both residents of Shopian sustained serious bullet injuries in army firing and later succumbed to their injuries.
Another youth, Rayees Ahmed, who also received bullet injury is battling for life in a Srinagar hospital.
Rest of the injured are stated to be stable.
The army had claimed that its soldiers fired in “self defence” as a mob tried to “lynch” a junior commissioned officer (JCO).
The army had alleged that the mob tried to torch their vehicles besides causing immense damage to them.
Additional director general of police (ADGP) Muneer Khan said, “We have registered an FIR against the army unit under few sections including 302 of RPC. Now, it is a matter of investigation to find out who ordered to fire and how the JCO got injured, the nature of injuries and circumstances that led to the killings,” Khan said.
“During the course of investigation, we will be able to zero in on the person who opened the fire,” said Khan, who also holds the charges of inspector general of police (IGP), Kashmir range.
A police source, privy to the investigations, said that during the course of the probe, the army major of 10 Gharwal would be called for questioning. “Besides people including those injured should also cooperate for the smooth probe,” he said.
“Since the FIR stands lodged, police are duty bound to complete the investigation. Once the final report is ready, that will be shared with the government and with the army top brass as well.”
Divisional commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmed Khan has also called a separate magisterial inquiry into the incident to be conducted by the deputy commissioner Shopian.
The killing of two youth by the army has triggered massive anger across Kashmir with the joint resistance leadership, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik rejecting the probe ordered by the government terming it as “a farce.”