A video that has gone viral shows that a schoolgirl, who was alleged to have been molested by soldiers, was instead harassed by some Kashmiri youths who later triggered the riots that resulted in firing by the Army in Handwara killing four people.
The video recording of the girl’s statement to the police had gone viral on Tuesday night but police denies having circulated it.
“After school was over, I entered a washroom (near the bunker). When I came out, a boy in a school uniform abused me and tried to snatch my bag. I did not let him snatch my bag,” said the girl in her statement.
“Have all Kashmiris died,” the girl quoted the boy as telling her, in reference to the fact that she had gone inside the bunker. She said there was nobody inside the washroom and she was not molested by anybody.
“I tried to explain to him that nothing wrong had happened but he would not listen,” said the girl, adding that they raised unnecessary hue and cry in the locality.
Soon, angry youngsters began pelting stones on the bunker and set it on fire. Unable to disperse the mob, security forces opened fire killing two youngsters, Iqbal Farooq Pir (21) and Naeem Qadir Bhat (22). A 55-year-old woman, Raja Begum, who was working in her fields two km away from the firing scene, was hit by a bullet. She succumbed on Wednesday.
Protests erupted again in Dragmulla area at the funeral of Iqbal Pir on Wednesday afternnoon and police were forced to lob tear gas shells to disperse the mob in Dragmulla area of north Kashmir. During the police action, a shell hit a protester named Jahangir Ahmad Wani in the head. Wani succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
The authorities have suspended Assistant Sub-Inspector Mohammad Rafiq for his failure to control the violence that erupted after some youngsters alleged that a girl was molested by a soldier manning a concrete bunker situated in the central square of Handwara town.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar assured Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who is in New Delhi, of a detailed time-bound probe to fix responsibility into the firing.
Describing the firing as “very unfortunate”, Mehbooba said, “I spoke to the Defence Minister. He assured me that a probe will be initiated and the culprits will be punished. At the same time, the family (of the victims) will be compensated. Such incidents should not happen in the future.”
The Northern Army Commander lt-Gen DS Hooda accompanied by Srinagar-based 15 Corps Commander lt-Gen Satish Dua visited Handwara and termed the incident as highly regrettable. Hooda asked for an early completion of the enquiry. The Army has also offered to take care of hospital expenses and subsequent rehabilitation of those injured in the incident.
Amid continued protests, a group of civil society members held a meeting with the district administration before the burials of the two youngsters. During the meeting, the district administration agreed to remove the Army bunker from Handwara Chowk within one month.
Mainstream political parties including National Conference, Congress, CPI(M), Sajjad lone’s Peoples Conference, Peoples Democratic Front, condemned the killings and demanded a judicial probe.
Meanwhile, normal life was affected in the entire Kashmir Valley for the second consecutive day due to the strike call by both factions of Hurriyat Conference. A shutdown was observed on Tuesday to protest against alleged harassment of Kashmiri students outside the Valley. The separatists have called for continuation of the shutdown and protests on Thursday.
Shops and business establishments remained closed while public transport remained off the roads.
The authorities imposed restrictions in Handwara and adjacent areas. The Srinagar district administration also imposed restrictions in areas falling under six police stations in Srinagar to maintain law and order. The train services between Banihal (Jammu) and Baramulla (north Kashmir) also remained suspended.
The J&K Police have registered a criminal case and the Army has ordered an enquiry into the firing. It stated that it had found video evidence that the schoolgirl had not been assaulted, and said in an official statement, “The Army regrets the loss of life. The matter is being investigated. Anybody found guilty shall be dealt with severely as per law.”