Seven passengers travelling from north Kashmir’s Sopore town died a few kilometres short of their Srinagar destination on Wednesday when their vehicle collided with an Army Recovery Van at Zainakote. Protests erupted in the area and in several pockets of Sopore against the incident.
The police have registered a case against the Army and arrested the driver of the vehicle who was rescued by his colleagues when bystanders attempted to thrash him and torch the Army vehicle. The troops fired in air to disperse the protesters who gathered in the area after the accident.
Three persons died on the spot while four others including a woman succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. Two persons were battling for their life in the hospital when reports last came in.
Governor NN Vohra has expressed shock over the incident while the Army has regretted it as unfortunate happening. “The General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command has expressed deep anguish and regrets on the unfortunate loss of innocent lives and conveys his deepest condolences to the bereaved families, a defence spokesman said.
“The J&K Police is investigating the case. Army authorities are extending full cooperation to the Police to enable expeditious and early completion of the inquiry into the accident”, he said in a statement issued from Udhampur based Northern Command.
Sources said that the Recovery Van was part of an Army convoy on way to Baramulla from Srinagar. Soon after the accident, the locals stage massive anti-army protests and clashed with police. A group of youngsters attempted to set ablaze an Army truck but they were dispersed by soldiers who fired in air to create scare.
The driver of the vehicle Hawaldar Krishan Singh has been arrested and the truck has been seized, a police official said. Meanwhile, hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Gaeelani who has issued protest calendar against the Israel’s aggression in Gaza called for a shutdown in Kashmir on Thursday. He said the shutdown would also a mark of protest against killing of seven persons by an army vehicle.
Meanwhile, unknown assailants shot dead a soldier of Territorial Army soldier at Khudwani area of Kulgam district in south Kashmir on Wednesday evening. Gowhar Ahmad Mattoo was hit twice and left in a pool of blood. He was immediately shifted to hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.