Anantnag, June 15
A youth protester died and a woman injured on Friday when the Army opened fire to disperse the violent mob when they did not heed to verbal appeals and aerial shots.
The deceased has been identified as 14-year-old Vikar Ahmad Rather. He was referred to Srinagar in a critical condition where he succumbed to injuries.
“He had lost a lot of blood and was in a state of shock when he was referred to Srinagar,” Medical Superintendent of Pulwama District Hospital, Dr Abdul Rasheed Parra, said. The injured woman, identified as 28-year-old Ruqaiya Jan, has firearm injuries on her back and is being treated at the Pulwama District Hospital.
Both of them are residents of Nowpora village in Lassipora.
According to sources, the Army had gone to the village to raid the house of Hizb militant Abid Magray, alias, Shuja. The incident took place around 6.10 pm.
The Army said the incident took place when soldiers were conducting an area domination patrol. “The road at Nowpora was blocked due to three to four cars being parked on the wrong side. The Army personnel got off their vehicle to request the drivers to move the cars,” the Army said.
On seeing them, a huge crowd gathered at the site and started throwing stones, endangering their safety as well as government property. The troops cautioned the crowd verbally. However, the mob turned violent and tried to overpower the troops. The Army personnel resorted to aerial firing, extricated themselves and continued with their patrol, the Army said.
