A day after the Jammu & Kashmir Government ordered a probe into the killing of a civilian in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, the police on Wednesday registered a case against the Border Security Force (BSF) for opening fire. Thousands of people participated in separate funeral prayers for slain militants and a civilian even as the entire Pulwama district observed a complete shutdown on separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani’s call.
Meanwhile, a soldier was wounded when Hizbul Mujahideen militants opened fire on an Army patrol in Trenz Village of Shopian. The security forces have increased deployments in most of South Kashmir areas to restrict militant movement in the wake of recent violent incidents and upcoming Independence Day.
A villager Bilal Ahmad Bhat was shot dead by BSF troops at Malangpora, a hamlet on the periphery of Indian Air Force Base of Awantipora on Tuesday evening. He was shot twice in his leg and abdomen while walking alone in his village. An eyewitness told The Pioneer that a group of local youngsters had thrown stones on two BSF vehicles, but they managed to escape. Ten minutes after the incident, more BSF vehicles arrived and the personnel on board opened indiscriminate fire. Bhat was immediately shifted to hospital but could not survive. An official spokesman while expressing sorrow and anguish over the loss of precious human life said that a Magisterial probe had been ordered into the incident.
“The security forces have been asked to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with public protests, particularly to avoid causing physical harm to any civilian. He said the State Government has ordered time-bound investigation and enquiry into the incident to ensure that those who are guilty of the offence are brought to book and punished,” the spokesman said.
On Wednesday, police filed a report in Pulwama police station while Additional Deputy Commissioner was assigned to probe the killing.
Inspector-General of BSF (Kashmir frontier), Jagat Singh, termed the incident unfortunate and said that an enquiry committee has been set up for probe. “Whatever happened was unfortunate and it should not have happened. Sometimes troops face a tough situation while dealing with violent protesters and they are forced to retaliate,” he said.
The incident occurred in the backdrop of a 19-hour long gun battle between security forces and two lashkar-e-Tayyeba militants at nearby Ratnipora-lajura quarter. Two militants were killed in the encounter. Thousands of people attended the funeral prayers of the slain militants and the civilian. They were chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Hundreds of youngsters were taking pictures of the slain militant with their cellphones when his body was put for public display. Normal life remained crippled in entire Pulwama district following a call by separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani. Educational institutions, Government offices and banks were shut and public transport was off the roads. Several separatist leaders and activists including JKlF chief Yasin Malik was prevented from entering Pulwama district.
Meanwhile, a soldier was wounded when militants opened fire on a private vehicle hired by the Army for patrolling in Trenz Village of Shopian. A Hizbul Mujahideen spokesman told a local news agency that their cadre attacked the Army vehicle and killed four soldiers.
Four personnel including a middle-rung police officer were injured in a separate incident when unknown militants hurled a grenade on a police party at Khanyar in old Srinagar late on Wednesday.
Officials said that police had laid an ambush near police station in this sensitive old city part when unknown persons tossed a grenade. The splinters hit four policemen on duty — an Assistant Sub-inspector, two constables and a CRPF man. The area was cordoned off after the blast.