Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 16: Two civilians were killed and another was injured in firing outside an Army camp in Rajouri district this morning, leading to massive protests and demands for a fair probe.
Click here to watch video
While the Army said in a tweet that some “unidentified terrorists” had started firing at the camp, eyewitnesses claimed a sentry posted at the gate opened fire at approaching locals, resulting in the casualties.
However, a senior Army officer later termed the incident “very unfortunate” and assured action against those involved in it.
“FIR has been registered with regard to the early morning incident. We assure a fair probe in a professional manner. Police were the first to reach the scene after the firing and they shifted the injured to a hospital,” Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Haseeb Mughal told reporters in Rajouri.
Rajouri residents Kamal Kishore son of Sadhu Ram and Surinder Kumar son of Om Prakash, both residents of Falyana in Ward No. 15 of Rajouri, both in their late 30s, were killed and Anil Kumar son of Bali Ram of Ranikhet, Uttarakhand, presently putting up in Ward No. 15 Rajouri was injured, police said.
Following the incident, locals, carrying their bodies, blocked the Jammu-Poonch National Highway for nearly seven hours and demanded a probe into the matter and adequate compensation to the families of the victims.
They relented only after senior administration, Army and police officials assured them of action, including registration of FIR.
The bodies were taken to the Rajouri Government Medical College for post-mortem and other legal formalities, Mughal said.
Police said the firing took place around 6.15 am when a group of people, who worked as porters, were approaching the ‘Alpha’ gate of the camp, located along the highway and about 150 kms from Jammu.
Though the Army claimed that “unidentified terrorists” started firing at the camp and in retaliatory fire, the two people were killed, eyewitnesses, denied it and alleged unprovoked firing by the sentry.
Locals raised doubts over the Army’s statement as they saw no Standard Operating Procedures being followed — cordoning off the area and calling of a Quick Reaction Team.
Rajouri Deputy Commissioner Vikas Kundal, Deputy General Officer Commanding (GOC) 25-Infantry Division Brigadier S Malik and DIG Mughal, along with other officials, pacified the protesters, who burnt tyres to block the highway and also threw stones at the camp.
While Kundal assured the demonstrators of a magisterial probe, Malik said the Army will extend full support in the investigation.
“Senior district administration officials were on the ground to persuade the protesters and stop the violence. Forensic and ballistic tests, and spot inspection will be done as part of the investigation, the report of which will be shared later,” Mughal said.
Besides assuring a Magisterial probe into the incident, the Deputy Commissioner also said ex-gratia relief, according to norms, will be given to the kin of the deceased.
“Demand for employment to the kin of the deceased will be looked into,” Kundal was heard telling the protesters.
Brigadier Malik termed the incident “very unfortunate” and said those found guilty will be punished according to the law.
“The Army will extend full support to police and in material probes. As far as compensation to the victims’ families is concerned, we will help them as the Army is here to help and protect the people,” Malik told the protesters.
Officials said though the highway was reopened, but the situation in the town remained tense. However, it was well under control.
Earlier in the day, the Army’s White Knight Corps, in a tweet from its official handle, said “In an early morning firing incident by unidentified terrorists at Rajouri near Military Hospital, there has been fatal casualty of two individuals. The police, security forces and civil administration officials are on the site.”
Follow our WhatsApp channel
