SrinagarAt least four girls, two of them sisters, were injured when army allegedly opened fire on people protesting against its move to host an Iftar (Breaking of Ramazan fast) party at a village in South Kashmir on Monday evening.
Official sources said that the incident took place as people objected to Army hosting the Iftar party in the Dreed Kalipora (DK Pora) village in Shopian district.
They said that the Army arrived in the village, carrying eatables and other items, prior to Iftar and had erected a mobile tent outside the mosque.
The villagers asked the Army to leave as they were already informed by local Auqaf two days ago that holding Iftar in the village would not be a good idea given the high tempers against government forces in the village following recent civilian killings.
“The Army had approached local Auqaf two days ago but they were told not to hold any Iftar party at the village,” locals claimed.
They said that Army arrived with eatables around Iftar and tried to host the Iftar party. The locals asked them to leave but the Army resisted.
Soon clashes erupted following which Army resorted to firing in which four girls suffered injuries.
A police official said that police had no information about Army hosting Iftar party in the village.
He said that Army had proposed to host the Iftar for ‘respectables’ of the area but ‘some miscreants’ pelted stones and Army fired few aerial shots.
In the incident, the officer said that four girls suffered injuries and two of them have bullet wounds and have been hospitalized.
Police said that a case would be registered under relevant sections of law and action as warranted under the law would be taken in the matter.
Meanwhile eyewitnesses told Kashmir Observer that two of the injured girls identified as Aqsa Jan daughter Mohammad Ayoub Magray and Shobi Jan daughter of Abdul Qayoom Hajam have been referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment. Shobi has been hit by a bullet in her right arm, they said.
While as two sisters Shakira Akther (17) suffered injury above the ankle and Shaafi Jan (15) have injuries in right leg. The duo, daughters of Abdul Hamid Bhat were admitted at PHC Harmain.
A police spokesman in a statement issued here said Monday night that around the Iftar time, an Army patrol of 34 RR had gone to the Jamia Masjid of DK Pora village, for participating in iftar with the locals of the area.
“It is learnt that during the Iftar, some miscreants pelted stones at the Army. While withdrawing the Army party made some ariel firing. In the process it is learnt that four injuries were reported to different hospitals. All the injured are stated to be stable. Out of four injuries one has been discharged from the hospital,” the spokesman said.
The police has taken cognizance of the episode and started legal proceedings, it said.
When contacted Army’s spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said that details regarding the incident were being ascertained.
He refused to comment further. (With inputs from GNS)
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