Restrictions continue in Kupwara

Srinagar, Jul 13: Restrictions continued for the second day on Friday in parts of frontier district of Kupwara, where a youth was killed when the Army opened fire to disperse demonstrators on July 11 evening.

Meanwhile, the District Magistrate (DM) has ordered a Magisterial inquiry into the incident. A case has also been registered in this regard.

However, a defence ministry spokesman has said troops opened fire in self defence after heavy stone pelting in which five soldiers were injured.

DM Khalid Jehangir, in a fresh order, said restrictions under Section 144 CrPC will continue to avert any law and order situation in Kupwara town and Trehgam on Friday.

Officials told TNN that district administration imposed restrictions under Section 144 CrPC in most parts of the north Kashmir district since early Thursday morning to prevent fresh clashes. However, situation in some areas, including Trehgam, Chowkibal and Kupwara town, was entirely different. Additional security forces and state personnel remained deployed in these areas who were directing people to remain indoor. However, at some places people defied the restriction and clashed with security forces yesterday.

On July 11 evening, some demonstrators pelted stones on an Army patrol at village Banpora, Trehgam on Kupwara-Chowkibal road. However, Army personnel opened fire in which two persons, including a shopkeeper Khalid Gaffar Malik, was critically wounded. The injured was immediately rushed to Kupwara hospital where he was declared brought dead. This was the first civilian killings in Kupwara this year when dozens of youths were killed in south and central Kashmir in security force action.

However, defence ministry spokesman said a mob of 30-40 youth resorted to heavy stone pelting at the Army’s highway domination patrol located at Trehgam on Wednesday at around 2000 hrs as an Army convoy was passing through the area.

The patrol verbally cautioned the stone pelters and thereafter fired two blank rounds in air to disperse the violent crowd.

However, he said, the mob didn't relent and stone pelting intensified endangering the safety of patrol. During the stone pelting, five soldiers sustained injuries. The patrol, finally, resorted to controlled fire at the aggressive mob in self defence and continued with their task.