Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 7: Four persons were killed when Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel fired at them outside Gagran security camp in South Kashmir district of Shopian this afternoon.
A Police spokesman said here that checking party of CRPF was fired upon by anti-national elements in Gagran, Shopian this afternoon. “The CRPF party retaliated and in the ensuing firefight, two anti-national elements got killed. One pistol and two grenades were recovered from their possession”, police added.
The spokesman said that in the incident three more persons identified as Towseef Ahmed Bhat son of Gul Mohammad resident of Baba Mohalla Shopian, Aadil Rehman Wachkoo son of Abdul Rehman resident of Shopian and Mohammad Yousuf of Durpora, Zainpora were injured.
“While Mohammad Yousuf died on the place of incident, Towseef Ahmad Bhat died on way to the hospital. Aadil Ahmad Wachkoo has been admitted in SMHS, Srinagar and is stable”, the spokesman added.
The spokesman said that the identity of the anti national elements is being ascertained. “The phone which was recovered from the unidentified anti-national elements has been used by militants of Lashker-e-Toiba”, the spokesman added.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir range, A G Mir said that two suspected militants and as many civilians were killed in the incident. “The identity of the suspected militants is being ascertained. Some weapons have been recovered from the scene”, he added.
However, Inspector General of Central of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Nalin Prabhat said: “Militants attacked CRPF camp at Gagran in Shopian and we fired back killing 3 militants. We have recovered some pistols and grenades”, he added.
Prabhat said there were no casualties among the security personnel in the attack which was repulsed. He, however, said that Police is investigating into the case.
As the news about the deaths spread in the town, people came out in protest against the killings. Carrying dead body of Towsef Ahmad, the protesters marched through the streets of Shopian and demanded inquiry into the incident.
The other three dead bodies were taken by the CRPF inside their camp and were later handed over to the police. One of them was identified as Mohammad Yusuf and his body was handed over his relatives for burial.
The two bodies are yet to be identified and they are lying in the District Police Lines Shopian.
Ding dong battles broke out between stone throwing protesters and police in the town during which police charged batons on the protesters and fired tear smoke shells.
The situation in the town is tense and additional forces have been rushed to the town to counter possible protesters tomorrow.
In the meantime, 12 Police men and a civilian were injured in a grenade attack on police near District Hospital in Pulwama this afternoon.
Police said that militants lobbed a grenade towards police deployment near District Hospital in Pulwama this afternoon in which 12 policemen were injured. They have been identified as Head Constable Mushtaq Ahmad, Constable Fayaz Ahmad, Constable Mohammad Yousuf, Constable Ghulam Ahmed, Constable Zahoor Ahmed, Constable Hilal Ahmed, Constable Ghulam Nabi, Constable Rizwan Ahmed, Constable Mohammad Rafique, Constable Ashiq Hussain, Constable Manzoor Ahmed, SPO Gowhar Ahmed and a civilian Shabir Ahmed resident of New Colony Pulwama.
The spokesman said that they were rushed to hospitals and seriously injured have been sent to Srinagar for treatment.
A police spokesman said that a security naka checking party at Budshah Chowk, Srinagar was busy in checking the vehicles. “The naka party asked a vehicle bearing registration number JK01R/5054 to stop. The vehicle dodged the party and fled from the spot. The naka party fired at the tyre of the vehicle, injuring one person Mohammad Iqbal Sheikh of Machuwa Chadoora in the leg. He has been hospitalized and is so for out of danger”, police said.
However, an eyewitness said the car collided with an ambassador car in which a forest conservator was travelling near Badshah crossing. Police deployed at the spot signalled the driver to stop, but he fled away.
“As the car reached near Badshah Bridge, just 20 meters away, a CRPF man opened fire on the vehicle in which the driver of the car and two other passengers were travelling. One person was injured”, the eyewitness said.
After the incident, youths from the adjacent Maisuma area came out of their homes and started pelting stones at the security forces. This led to clashes in the area and police charged batons and fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
In the meantime, the hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and moderate leader Mirwaiz Omar have called for one day strike tomorrow against the Shopian killings.
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