Protests over the alleged killing of a local carpenter by security forces in North Kashmir’s Handwara erupted Friday with the people taking to streets against the incident which they believe was a fake encounter carried by army.According to the KNS correspondent, the protesters accused that on Friday morning, two suspicious persons on a motor cycle (JK01S-0147), arrived in Lach Mawar area of Handwara and picked up a local carpenter namely Zahoor Ahmad Najar. The protesters added that the duo took Zahoor to nearby forest area wherein after 15 minutes, huge explosion shook the entire area. Locals said that when they tried to move towards the forests to inquire over the incident, the forces didn’t allow them to move ahead, saying the militants have carried out attack against forces in the forests.A local sarpanch namely Gulam Mohammad Tantary told KNS that when locals after the explosion moved towards the forest area, they saw an injured person moving out of the place whom locals later tried to shift to the nearby hospital for treatment “As we were shifting that injured person to the hospital, we saw another person in poll of blood with the hand grenades tied around his body,” said the sarpanch, adding that in a meantime, local legislator Engineer Rashid reached on the spot.
When contacted, Rashid said that he along with other locals reached on spot of the accident and witnessed an injured person tied with grenades. “He was later identified as a 25 year Zahoor Ahmad Najar, a local carpenter. I myself untied those grenades from his body by a knife. We later shifted him to the Handwara hospital wherein doctors declared him brought dead,” Rashid said.According to the eye witnesses, the local carpenter, after the explosion was lying in poll of blood with some of his body parts amputated. Locals accuse that he two persons who picked up Zahor on their motor cycle are the security personnel and are associated with Nowgam army camp. Locals said that the two security men were also injured during the explosion namely head constable Ravider Chogli and constable Nitesh Kumar. Locals said that both the injured security personnel were airlifted from the area and shifted to the Kupwara army hospital.Police later reached on the scene along with the bomb disposal squad that disposed the grenade lying near the site. Police has also seized a mortal cycle (JK01S-0147), that was reportedly used by the security persons to pick up the local carpenter.
Reports informed that as the news of the death of the local carpenter reached in the entire area, people took to streets and protested against the incident. Addressing protesters, legislator Engineer Rashid said that the slain youth will not be buried until the police registers the case of killing against the security personnel and initiates thorough investigation. “I give them five days time, till then they have to complete the investigation so that culprits are brought to book. If Police fails to register case against the killers of Zahoor, I would not allow any person or party to hold any election rally in the area,” he warned.SP Handwara Ghulam Jeelani told KNS that the police has started investigating the case and further investigations will be carried after the FIR is registered about the incident. He, however, maintained that till the investigations are complete, no conclusion can be drawn out of the incident.The Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Itrat Hussain Rafique told KNS over phone that he has asked the police to investigate the matter. He said that he himself went on spot to access the situation and also assured the family of the slain person that investigation in to the case shall be completed on priority. “ Zahoor was later buried with proper funeral,” the DC said. (KNS)