July 12, 2018:

On Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir Police lodged a FIR mentioning Army in killing of a civilian in a ‘clash’ in Kupwara on Wednesday.

Magisterial probe has also been ordered. FIR has been lodged under Section 307 of Ranbir Penal Code (attempt to murder).

District Magistrate, Kupwara, Khalid Jehangir stated that Additional District Commissioner (ADM), Handwara, Muzaffar Hussain, had been appointed as the inquiry officer and would complete the probe in a month.

Khalid Gaffar Malik, 22, died of bullet injuries in the throat when the Army opened fire at Kupwara’s Trehgam village.

A Srinagar-based Army spokesman said the Army fired when a mob of 30-40 youths resorted to heavy stone pelting at the highway domination patrol around 8 p.m.

He further added that,“The patrol verbally cautioned the stone-pelters and fired two blank rounds in the air. Stone pelting intensified and five soldiers sustained injuries. The patrol finally resorted to controlled fire at the aggressive mob in self-defence,” said the spokesman.

State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has sought reports from Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police, Kupwara.

International Forum For Justice Human Rights Jammu and Kashmir Chairman Mohammad Ahsan Untoo filed a petition before Commission alleging that the Standard Operating Procedures had been violated in many cases resulting in the civilian killings.

It’s for the first time during the Governor’s rule that an FIR was lodged against the Army. Since Governor N.N. Vohra took charge of the State on June 20, around 10 civilians have died in the security forces’ firing either at the encounter site or in clashes.

Source PTI

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