SRINAGAR: A 28-year-old cattle trader was killed and another injured allegedly in firing by Indian forces in Ramban district of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) on August 5, police said.
Police registered a first information report (FIR) against the personnel involved in the incident. Indian forces, however, said that the soldiers opened fire when they came under attack after challenging the people moving suspiciously in the area.
Mohammad Rafiq Gujjar (28) and Shakeel Ahmad (30), both residents of Gool, were allegedly fired upon by soldiers of the 58 Rashtriya Rifles when they were leaving Kohli village around 4 am, a police official said. He said that Gujjar died on the spot while Ahmad was injured and admitted to a hospital.
Both of them were cattle traders and had come to the village in connection with their business, the official said citing preliminary investigation.
Ramban Senior Superintendent of Police Mohan Lal confirmed the death of a civilian and injuries to another in the firing. “An FIR under section 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) Ranbir Penal Code and various sections of arms act was registered against the Indian Army (personnel),” the SSP said.
A defence spokesman said the soldiers fired when they came under attack after they challenged the suspected individuals. “An operation was launched by the Indian forces based on specific intelligence inputs in Kohli area of Gool tehsil. At 3.45 am, the Indian Army patrol saw some suspicious activities. The suspected individuals were challenged by the Indian forces as per the standing operating procedure.
“On being challenged, the suspected individuals opened fire on the Army patrol. On this, the Indian Army patrol retaliated effectively,” the spokesman said. However, the police officer said no weapon was found at the scene or in the possession of the deceased.
TWO-DAY STRIKE IN IOK FROM MONDAY AGAINST ONSLAUGHT ON ARTICLE 35-A:
In IOK, a two-day shutdown began on Sunday to protest against the onslaught on Article 35-A of Indian constitution that grants special rights and privileges to the permanent residents.
Call for the shutdown was given by joint resistance leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik and supported by trader bodies and civil society organisations.
All shops, business establishments are closed while traffic is off the road in all major cities and towns of the territory. Indian Army and police personnel have been deployed in strength to thwart anti-India protests.
A fourteen-member group of senior lawyers from Kashmir Bar Association will appear before the Indian Supreme Court on Monday, to oppose the petitions seeking scrapping of the constitutional provisions which grant special status to IOK.
Following its executive committee meeting in Srinagar, the Bar constituted the 14-member team to defend Articles 35-A and 370 of Indian constitution besides Section-6 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.
HURRIYAT LEADERS ARRESTED, PUT UNDER HOUSE DETENTION IN IOK:
Occupation authorities arrested Hurriyat leaders, including Gulzar Ahmad Gulzar, Mohammad Yousuf Naqash, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza and Molvi Bashir Ahmad Irfani from their residences in IOK on Sunday.
Hurriyat leaders, Engineer Hilal Ahmad War, Bilal Ahmad Siddiqui and Zafar Akbar Butt were placed under house arrest in the backdrop of the two-day strike call.
Meanwhile, police raided the residence of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik at Maisuma in Srinagar to arrest him but he was not at home at the time of the raid.
