Budgam, July 21, KP: After the killing of a youth in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district Police and Army released their separate versions almost clashing with each other.
Police said Army opened fire in Beerwah after mistaking fire cracker sound for grenade blast while Army said some stone-pelters tried to snatch weapons from the patrol party.
People who were accompanying with wounded youth at hospital claimed that army responded with live bullets after they objected their thrashing of vendors and pedestrians.
Jammu Kashmir Police issued a press release about the killing. As per the police statement, “as per initial information received today a Foot Patrol of army was returning to its camp and near Beerwah some miscreants pelted stones on them. Someone among these miscreants also hurled a fire cracker towards the army men. Because of bang the army men thought a grenade was hurled and they retaliated. Two persons identified as Tanveer Ahmed Pala and Mohammed Ibrahim Wani were injured. Among them Tanveer succumbed to his injuries while Ibrahim is stable.”
Srinagar based Defense Spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia in reaction to this killing sent a Whatsapp text to CNS that reads: “An Army patrol was subjected to heavy stone pelting by a mob in Kondur village near Beerwah town at 13:15 hours today. In no time the numbers swelled and the intensity of stone-pelting increased. Some stone-pleters tried to close in with the patrol and snatch weapons from the soldiers. Two persons were reportedly injured when troops opened fire. One of the injured, however, later succumbed to his injuries.” (KP)
