Three civilians including a teenage girl were killed allegedly in government forces action during clashes in Redwani area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday.Official sources told GNS that army’s patrolling party opened fire upon a group of youth after they pelted stones on them in Hawoora area of Khudwani near Redwani area.In the incident, five persons suffered injuries, they said. All the injured have been taken to nearby Primary Health Centre (PHC) Frisil where three among the injured were declared brought dead, they said.The deceased have been identified as Shakir Ahmad Khanday (22) son of Mohd Hussain Khanday, Irshad Ahmad (20) son of Abdul Majeed and Andleeb (16) daughter of Ali Mohammad.The injured has been identified as Zahid Ahmad and Yawer Ahmad Dar.
Dr Aijaz Ahmad also confirmed the death of three persons and said that all the deceased had firearm injuries.Meanwhile, thousands of people today late in the afternoon participated in the last rites of three civilians at Hawoora village.Reports said that several rounds of funeral prayers were held for the slain civilians at a school ground in Hawoora village. Thousands of people participated in the prayers of the trio and were laid to rest amid sobs and tears.Soon after the funeral, the people took to streets and staged massive anti-government demonstrations against the army for opening direct firing on the youth.A group of militants appeared in the funeral several times and offered a gun-salute to the slain.Authorities snapped mobile Internet service in south Kashmir districts of Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag soon after the killings.
Police Version
"An army patrol in District Kulgam while moving through Hawoora Mishipora area this afternoon was pelted by miscreants," a police spokesman in a statement issued here said.Consequently, the army tried to disperse the miscreants and in the process five individuals sustained injuries, the spokesman said.The injured persons were evacuated to nearby hospital. However, later three persons succumbed to the injuries including a girl while the other two individuals are stated to be stable, he said.Police have started the investigation into the matter, the spokesman added.
Army Version
“An Area Domination Patrol ( ADP) of Army while moving in general area Hawoora, Kulgam came under heavy stone pelting. As the ADP tried to extricate, they were chased by an aggressive and menacing crowd of 400-500 persons which kept building up and coming dangerously close," army's defence ministry spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia in a statement issued here said.The spokesman further claimed that the troops while exercising extreme restraint, cautioned the stone pelters, who, however, failed to relent and repeatedly threw petrol bombs and stones at the patrolling party. At one point of time, some unidentified militants also fired on the column. This resulted in some soldiers receiving grievous injuries."In response to this grave provocation and to ensure the security of own troops, controlled firing was resorted to by the Army which resulted in an unfortunate loss of human lives. The matter is being investigated to ascertain facts on the ground," the spokesman added. (GNS)