Srinagar:
A 21-year-old man was killed in Army firing in North Kashmir's Bandipora district on Tuesday night. The incident has triggered massive protests in the area and several people including a police officer have been injured in the clashes.
Hilal Ahmad Dar was killed in the Ashtengoo Naar area of Bandipora district, 55 kms from Srinagar.
The police have claimed that it might be a case of mistaken identity. However, the villagers in the district allege that unprovoked firing from the Army killed the young man.
The Army has said that they have found a rifle from the site but the police have refused to accept the Army's claim that the victim was a militant. Police say there was no record of Dars' involvement in militancy or kinks to any separatist group.
"After we received information about the presence of militants in the area troops laid an ambush last night. A suspicious movement was noticed and when the army challenged him, he fired up on the army. The troops retaliated. Then there was calm. Today morning we found a body and also an AK 47 Rifle there," Major Gen Sarath Chand, GOC Kilo Force told NDTV.
Soon after the news spread about the killing, hundreds of people took to streets and protested against what they call a murder in cold blood.
"He was caught and then shot from point blank. There are torture marks on his body also,'' said Abdul Rashid, a villager.
As the mourners and protesters staged dharna and refused to bury the body, clashes broke out between the police and angry protesters. Several people including SHO of Bandipore police station were injured in the clashes. Police used tear smoke shells and lathi-charge to disperse the protesters and also took possession of the body. Sources in police say that the body will now be handed over to family later this evening for burial.
This is the second such incident in Bandipora in one week. A 25-year-old shepherd was injured three days ago in a similar Army operation in the district.