Man killed in army firing in Kupwara

SRINAGAR : A man was killed and another injured allegedly in army firing during clashes with stone pelting protesters at Trehgam in Kupwara district on Wednesday.

Army spokesman said that a mob of 30-40 youth resorted to heavy stone pelting at the army’s highway domination patrol located at Trehgam at around 8pm as an Army convoy was passing through the area.

“The patrol verbally cautioned the stone pelters and thereafter fired two blank rounds in air to disperse the violent crowd. However, the mob didn’t relent and stone pelting intensified endangering the safety of patrol,” he said.

During the stone pelting, five soldiers sustained injuries. The patrol, finally, resorted to controlled firing at the aggressive mob in self defence and continued with their task. Even earlier in the day, stone pelters had resorted to stone pelting at military vehicles at Trehgam and Kralpora, he added.

Locals alleged that on Wednesday evening the army opened fire when a group of protesters pelted stones on an army convoy at Trehgam in which two men were injured. Later, one of them succumbed to injuries at hospital.

The deceased was identified as Khalid Ahmad, 21.

Meanwhile, the police said the incident is being investigated.

However, the district authorities have decided to keep all schools and colleges in the district shut on Thursday.