KupwaraA civilian hailing from a village in north Kashmir district of Kupwara, who was killed in army firing Saturday night, was laid to rest amid surcharged atmosphere as thousands turned up for his funeral in his native Thandipora village.
The taxi driver by profession, Asif Iqbal died after being shot when he was coming out of his house to take a patient to hospital, family and neighbours said.
SSP Kupwara, Shamsheer Hussain had also confirmed the killing of the Sumo cab driver in army firing but termed it a case of “mistaken identity”.
As per army, soldiers had laid an ambush in the area. The sumo driver was asked to stop but he didnt and was then shot by them, the district police chief said.
Terming the incident as very unfortunate and regrettable, Hussain said We will hold an enquiry into the matter and whosoever is guilty would be punished.
Residents said that Asif Iqbal, came out of his house to start his vehicle (Sumo bearing registration No JK05C 7608) as he wanted to ferry some patient to a hospital.
As he came few yards from his house, the army fired at him, leaving him in pool of blood. He succumbed enroute to Srinagar at Sopore, family of the deceased said.
According to reports, police handed over the body of the slain to his family early on Sunday morning after completing all medico-legal formalities. As the body reached Batapora, which is adjacent to Thandipora, thousands of people who were already waiting there stopped the ambulance carrying the body of the deceased. They took custody of the body but refused to perform last rites till murder case was not registered against the army.
Later they carried it in a procession. The mourners were shouting pro-Azadi and religious slogans. They also raised slogans demanding punishment to the guilty.
Independent MLA Engineer Rashid also joined the mourners. He, however, was detained by police and taken to nearby police station. The mourners were later intercepted by police and clashes erupted between two sides afterwards. Police used teargas shells to the disperse the mourners. In the clashes, one police officer was hit by a stone on his face and sustained injury, an official said.
Later thousands of people attended the funeral of Iqbal in his native village. Women were chest beating and wailing during the funeral. The slain was laid to rest amid sobs and tears in a local graveyard.
Police described the situation there under control. “We had requested people not to take law into their hands and the overall situation is peaceful. There were some clashes at Batapora and Kralpora but we fired few teargas shells and the situation was contained,” police said.
Sources said while the complete shutdown is being observed in Kralpora area and the adjoining parts are observing partial shutdown. Pertinently, SSP Kupwara said that a probe would be ordered into the incident and whosoever is guilty would be punished.
Army Version
Srinagar based defence spokesman in a statement issued for press said: “Based on information of presence of militants in Thindpura village, the army placed ambushes to maintain surveillance over the area on night 16/17 December. At around 2255h, ambush party observed the suspicious movement of three persons near nallah in Thindpura village”.
The individuals were challenged by troops, however, they did not respond. Thereafter, militants opened fire towards army ambush party which was retaliated to. In the crossfire, one person, later identified as Asif Iqbal Bhat, s/o Mohd Iqbal Bhat, a resident of Thindpura was killed due to a Gunshot wound. It is learnt that he was a sumo taxi driver. Investigations are in progress, the spokesman said.
Police Version
Meanwhile, a police statement issued to GNS said: “In reference to the incident occurred at Kupwara in which one civilian identified as Asif Iqbal Bhat son of Mohammad Iqbal resident of Thandipora was killed at Thandipora in the jurisdiction of Police Station Kralpora.”
Kupwara police have lodged an FIR in Police Station Kralpora and investigation has been started. Police and civil administration will provide all help to the bereaved family, the statement added.
Kashmir Wire Adds
Even as police registered a case and started an investigation into the killing, agitated villagers remained adamant not to perform last rites of the deceased till a murder case was registered against the army soldiers responsible for this inhuman act.
Intense clashes broke out in the frontier district town of Kupwara this morning, following the killing of the civilian allegedly by army soldiers during an ambush laid by them in Thandipora village in the jurisdiction of police station Kralpora last night.
Raising pro-freedom and anti-government slogans, villagers of Thandipora took to streets this morning to protest the killing of the civilian identified as Asif Iqbal and demanded registration of a murder case against the army, eyewitnesses said.
The government forces deployed in strength in the area fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
A senior police officer was injured in the clashes. The police officer was hit by a stone on his face and received a few stitches, officials said.
In order to pacify the agitators, police lodged an FIR in Kralpora police station this afternoon and said it has started investigations. Police and civil administration will provide all help to the bereaved family, a police spokesman said.
He said after completion of medico-legal formalities, the body of the deceased has been handed over to his legal heirs for last rites.
However, this did not satisfy the agitated villagers who insisted that a murder case under section 302 be registered against the army.
Meanwhile, in wake of the killing authorities have blocked internet services in the frontier district.
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