4 People Killed In Shopian: Protests In Kashmir
By JandkLive
08 September, 2013
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Srinagar, Sep. 08 (KNS): A strict curfew remained imposed in the twin districts of Shopian and Kulgam on Sunday following the killing of four persons by CRPF in firing on Saturday. According to reports police and the paramilitary CRPF, after widespread clashes Saturday evening; have been deployed in full force across this south Kashmir town. There have been several attempts since morning to defy curfew at certain places in Shopian. However Deputy Commissioner Shopian Bashir Ahamd Bhat told KNS that the situation remained by and large under control on Sunday. He said that the as per the preliminary investigations, three among four are believed to be civilians but added that if need arises an enquiry would be constituted to ascertain the facts. “We are closely monitoring the developments and trying to ascertain the facts. We may initiate an enquiry if the need arises.” Bhat told KNS. He added that the district administration would take every possible step to ensure the safety of life and property of the public . According to DC, curfew was likely to continue on Monday also. Meanwhile no separatist organization has called for a strike on Monday. Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani told KNS that his amalgam had called for a strike on Sunday only. Meanwhile National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Sunday expressed his grief over the Shopian incident and incident that such incidents were unfortunate and shouldn't be allowed to occur.
Ealier thousands of people assembled outside the 14th Battalion CRPF camp in Gagren area of Shopian. The protestors demanded the removal of the camp, following the alleged unprovoked killing by CRPF personnel in which 4 people were killed. The people, despite repeated tear smoke shelling by the forces, refused to budge in.While 3 of the slain youth have been identified to be as civilians,the identity of the fourth one is yet to be revealed by the police.However sources say that the fourth deceased is also a civilian, a labourer from Bihar. Three of the deceased have been identified as Tawseef Ahmad Bhat, 18, son of Gulam Muhammad Bhat, resident of Baba Mohallah Shopian, Muhammad Yousuf resident of Durpora, Zainpora (a labourer) and Tariq Ahmad Mir son of Ghulam Nabi Mir, a resident of Okay, Kulgam.
Eye Witness Account
A middle aged woman, Maroofa Banoo while narrating the Shopian episode told CNS that she witnessed the blood bath by her eyes on Saturday. “I am shocked how CRPF personnel from 14th Battalion pumped bullets into the youth and aimed at a Bihari labour who was also witnessing ‘bloody game’ being played by CRPF men. They even tried to shoot me but I hid myself and escaped their evil intentions,” she said.
Narrating the episode, Maroofa said that she was at a few meters distance from CRPF Headquarters located at Gargrin when some CRPF personnel standing outside the camp stopped two youth riding on motorcycle.
“One of them was Tawseef who was known to me. I saw CRPF men were telling them something and suddenly, one of the CRPF man caught hold the shirt of Tawseef while another man fired upon the youth accompanying him. I cried and in a blink, other CRPF man showered bullets on Tawseef who died later on,” she said.
Maroofa Banoo told CNS that two more civilians were passing through the busy Gagrin road who were also shot at by these uniformed men. “There was strike thin public movement was there. A Bihari mason was watching all this from a shop and a CRPF man aimed at him and shot him dead,” she said.
Terming the claim of CRPF personnel baseless that youth on motorcycle fired upon them, Maroofa said that firing was unprovoked and all the your youth were killed in cold blood.
Another college-going student told CNS on condition of anonymity that “in order to label the slain youth as militants, CRPF men placed some grenades around the dead bodies. I am the witness to it and I denounce their claims. These CRPF men are misleading even police. Police should investigate the matter thoroughly and book these culprits,” he said.
However, police claimed that it killed two anti-nantional elements in Shopian
HERE IS UNEDITED POLICE PRESS NOTE
Srinagar, September 07: A CRPF checking party was fired upon by anti national elements in Gagran, Shopian this afternoon. The CRPF party retaliated and in the ensuing firefight, two anti national elements got killed. One pistol and two grenades were recovered from their possession. In this incident three more persons identified as Towseef Ahmed Bhat son of Gul Mohammad resident of Baba Mohalla Shopian, Aadil Rehman Wachkoo son of Abdul Rehman resident of Shopian and Mohammad Yousuf of Durpora, Zainpora were injured. While Mohammad Yousuf died on the place of incident, Towseef Ahmad Bhat died on way to hospital, Aadil Ahmad Wachkoo has been admitted in SMHS, Srinagar and is stable. The identity of the anti national elements is being ascertained. The phone which was recovered from the unidentified anti national elements has been used by militants of Lashker.
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