Violent protests broke out in the frontier district Kupwara after an army vehicle allegedly ran over there female pedestrians including a minor girl near Panzgam hamlet on Tuesday morning.Eyewitnesses told CNS that an Army vehicle from 60 Grenadiers was on way to Chowkibal to Kupwara when the driver lost the control over the vehicle and hit three females pedestrians. After running over the women, the vehicle rolled down and hit a dilapidated house. The injured hailing from nearby Bhatamohalla Panzgam were rushed to nearby hospital where two of them succumbed to their injuries.Station House Officer Kupwara told CNS that two women died in the accident while another minor girl sustain injuries. He identified the slain women as Naza Begum (36) wife of Khazar Muhammad Bhat and 26-year-old Saima Bano daughter of Muhammad Afzal, both residents of Bhatmohalla Panzgam. Pakeeza Bano, the daughter of slain Naza Begum according to hospital sources has sustained serious injuries and has been battling for life.
Eyewitnesses told CNS that soon after the accident hundreds of people from Panzgam Kralapora and its adjacent localities including Dardpora, Manzgam took to streets and attacked the army vehicle. Witnesses said that angry protesters amid pro-freedom slogans hurled rocks and damaged the Army vehicle. Some of the protesters emptied the patrol tanker and set the Army vehicle on fire. The fire damaged the roof and other parts of the vehicles. Large contingent of police and Para-military troopers rushed to spot to contain the protesters. Amid rains, the clashes between the protesters and the government forces continued for hours.Meanwhile, Army while terming the incident unfortunate said that the GOC- in- C, Northern Command has expressed deep anguish on the unfortunate loss of innocent lives and conveys his deepest condolences to the bereaved families.The J&K Police are investigating the case and Army authorities are extending full cooperation to the Police to enable expeditious and early completion of the inquiry into the accident,” Defence Spokesperson Ministry of Defence S.D.Goswami said. (CNS)