Teenager killed, woman injured in army firing: Cops

SRINAGAR : A teenager was killed and a woman injured when the Army allegedly fired on protesters in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday, police said. This is the first civilian death since the security forces froze operations in Kashmir in the holy month of Ramzan.

Police officers said that Vikas Ahmad,18, was hit by a bullet when the army opened fire in Noupora-Litter village of Pulwama. He died on the way to hospital. The injured woman was hit in the thigh, but her bone was spared, they added.

“The army told us that they came under stone pelting and they fired in the air, Pulwama Superintendent of Police Mohammad Aslam said.

Army spokesman Rajesh Kalia said that troops were conducting an “area domination patrol” in a mineproof vehicle. He said that the road at Naupora was blocked by some cars were parked on the wrong side of the road prompting the armymen to request the owners to move the cars.

“The house reportedly belonged to Aabid Manzoor Magray. On seeing the Army personnel, a huge crowd gathered at the site and started pelting stones and closing in on to the troops, endangering their safety and government property.The troops cautioned the crowd verbally. However, the mob turned violent and tried to overpower the troops. Army personnel resorted to aerial firing, extricated themselves and continued with their patrol,” Kalia said.

Earlier in the day, two cops and three civilians were wounded when suspected militants opened fire on a security checkpoint in summer capital Srinagar on Friday afternoon.

Security has been enhanced in Srinagar following the killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari on Thursday evening.