‘Civilian killed as jawans fired in self- defence’
SRINAGAR: Even as the killing of two civilians in Bandipora in the alleged army firing on Sunday has evoked widespread strong criticism, the army, in its defense, has said one of the two victims was killed when the security forces fired in selfdefence.
“The army ambulance brought in to attend to the injured youths was being driven out of the area, when it was attacked by a violent mob. The mob tried to set the ambulance on fire and assault the doctor and the medical team. While disengaging, the troops fired in self- defence, resulting in injury to a youth who later succumbed to the injuries,” said the army spokesman.
He reiterated that it was a joint operation. “A joint operation was launched by the army and Jammu and Kashmir police on Saturday last on the specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the Markandal area of Sumbal in Bandipora district,” said the spokesman.
“On establishment of the cordon, a brust of fire was heard from the place beyond the cordon area. Hearing about a youth being injured in the fire, an ambulance with doctor and his team was brought in to attend to the injured,” said the spokesman.
Meanwhile, the government has taken a strong note of the killing of two youths in
The government affirms its stand of
zero tolerance to innocent killings. It has conveyed to the security forces to adhere to standard operating procedures
A GOVT SPOKESMAN
Bandipora and has asked the director general of police to expedite inquiry.
“The government had expressed its deep sense of anguish and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families,” said a government spokesman in a statement on Sunday evening.
The spokesman termed the incident as most “unfortunate and unacceptable”. He said the authorities had asked the director general police to expedite the investigation on the case registered in the incident.
“The government has reaffirmed its stand of zero tolerance to innocent killings and has conveyed this to the security forces emphasising upon them to strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOP) under all circumstances,” said the spokesman.
Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, also former union home minister, said, “The incident reflected how deeply the culture of impunity has become entrenched. It is now becoming increasingly clear that the state government has lost all control on the situation.”
Separatists, who include hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and JKLF chief Yasin Malik, have called for a shutdown on Monday against the killings.
Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz on Sunday condemned the killing of youth allegedly in an army firing in the Sumbal area of Bandipora district.
“I express my deepest anguish at the very sad happening at Sumbal in which two people got killed Army firing. I condemn the firing which caused these deaths,” Soz said in a statement here.
The Indian army should institute a high level inquiry and bring the persons responsible for this tragic and unfortunate event to book, Saifuddin Soz said.