Shopian Under Curfew After CRPF Kills 4

SRINAGAR: An undeclared curfew was clamped on Shopian town of south Kashmir Saturday after massive protests broke out following death of four young men in firing by the paramilitary forces.

Curfew was imposed to quell protests after CRPF personnel allegedly gunned down four civilians who were moving towards Shopian town on their motor cycles, residents said. 

Director General of Police said his office was ascertaining the facts while Deputy Commissioner Pulwama said a probe may be ordered if need arises. However, CRPF officials claimed that the youth killed in firing were militants.

Eyewitnesses said that people in Gagrin area of Shopian ran for their lives when CRPF personnel suddenly resorted to indiscriminate firing in broad day light. “Everything was peaceful and people were busy in their work when gun shots rang. We were shocked to see the bodies of youth lying on road in front of CRPF 14 Battalion headquarters, an eyewitness said adding, as some people rushed to the spot CRPF personnel there resorted to aerial firing and forced people to flee from there.

The brother of one the injured youth, Aadil Rehman who was shifted to SMHS said that Aadil was pillion riding a motorcycle of his friend when CRPF suddenly fired upon them. “Aadil was on way to Degree College Shopian to appear in the examination. He is not a militant but a student,” Omar Rehman said adding that it was the Station House Officer Shopian who allowed us to move Aadil to hospital in critical condition.

“I am the witness of it. CRPF personnel were dragging a dead body and my injured brother. They handed over Aadil to police station Shopian. SHO Shopian allowed us to shift Aadil to hospital and it is because of him that he is alive,” Omar said.

Police sources said that some unidentified persons lobbed a grenade on CRPF headquarter. In retaliation four youth were killed while two others were injured.

Soon after the incident, hundreds of people came on roads and raised anti-CRPF and anti-India slogans. They were demanding the registration of murder cases against CRPF personnel.

Media personnel were barred from entering into police station Shopian where dead bodies had been kept.

“The slain youth are all civilians. If they are militants then why police is not revealing their identity and handing over their bodies to us,” said one of the protestors.

Despite repeated attempts no district police official picked up the phone. However Director General of Police Ashok Prasad said Saturday evening that they are ascertaining the facts. “People have started stone pelting in the area and are not allowing police to ascertaining the facts. The information we have got is that some unidentified militants fired upon CRPF personnel and in retaliation two militants were killed. CRPF has also recovered one pistol and 2 grenades from the deceased militants,” Prasad said.

CRPF PRO, Kishor Prasad told CNS that six youth appeared on motor cycles and fired upon the personnel of Quick Action Team who reacted immediately and killed three militants on spot. “We have recovered some arms and ammunition from them. We killed militants and not civilians,” he said but refused to reveal their identity. “You can ascertain their identity from the local police,” Prasad said.

The father of the one youth killed in CRPF firing identified as Tawseef Ahmed Bhat said that his son was running a shop in upper bazaar of Shopian and he was not a militant. “Police had arrested my son for his alleged role in stone pelting but he was released some six months ago. He was innocent and had nothing to do with militancy,” he said. 

Meanwhile, hundreds of CRPF and police personnel were deployed in Shopian and strict curfew was imposed in the town. Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Bashir Ahmed Bhat said that they are waiting for the police confirmation and if need arises, a committee would be constituted to probe the incident. 

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