Srinagar, September 7, 2013 : At least four civilians including Mohammad Yousuf of Durpora, Zainpora and Towseef Ahmad Bhat were killed in Indian paramilitary firing at Gagrun village in shopian district today, police siad.
Locals, talking to media men siad that the Indian paramiltary forces killed innocent civilians in what they say was a cold-blooded encounter. Soon after the incident, hundreds of people took to the streets and clashed with Indian forces in Shopian.
he protesters even tried to attack the Deputy Commissioner's office. Police used tear smoke shells and baton charge to disperse the crowd.
The residents of the area said that all four are civilians and said troops shot them as they rode past a security camp on a motorcycle. Mohammad Yousuf of Durpora, Zainpora died on the place of incident, Towseef Ahmed Bhat son of Gul Mohammad resident of Baba Mohalla Shopiandied on way to hospital. Among others the injured in the firing were also Aadil Rehman Wachkoo son of Abdul Rehman resident of Shopian.
The father of the one youth killed in CRPF firing identified as Tawseef Ahmed Bhat said that his son was running a shop in upper bazaar of Shopian and he was not a militant. “Police had arrested my son for his alleged role in stone pelting but he was released some six months ago. He was innocent and had nothing to do with militancy,” he said.
Witnesses said that people in Gagrin area of Shopian ran for their lives when CRPF troopers suddenly resorted to indiscriminate firing in broad day light. “Everything was peaceful and I was busy with my work when I heard gun shots. We were shocked to see the bodies of youth lying on road in front of Central Reserve Police Force 14 Battalion Head Quarter. As people tried to come close to the spot, Indian paramilitary CRPF resorted to aerial firing and forced people to flee from the spot,” one of the witnesses said.
A 26-year-old student Aadil Ahmad Rehman Wachkoo has been admitted in SMHS, Srinagar was shot twice in the stomach, said from a hospital bed that there were no militant (rebels) at the site of the incident, and that police gunfire was unprovoked. He said the two men accused of being militant (rebels) by Indian police were actually students riding a motorcycle to a local exam centre.
The brother of one injured youth Aadil Rehman who was shifted to SMHS said Aadil was on motorcycle that was driven by his friend when CRPF suddenly fired upon them. “Aadil was on way to Degree College Shopian to appear in examination. He is not a militant but a student,” Omar Rehman said adding that it was the Station House Officer Shopian who allowed us to move Aadil to hospital in critical condition.
“I am the witness. CRPF personnel were dragging a body and my injured brother. They handed over Aadil to police station Shopian. SHO Shopian allowed us to shift Aadil to Hospital and it is because of him that he is alive,” Omar said.
The slain youth are all civilians. If they are militants then why police is not revealing their identity and handing over their bodies to us,” one of the protestors said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of CRPF and police personnel were deployed in Shopian and strict curfew was imposed in the town.