Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Nov 3: Two persons were killed and two others critically injured when Army fired on a car in Chattergam village of Central Kashmir district of Budgam this evening. Army has ordered an inquiry into the firing.
Sources said that the incident occurred when troops of Army’s 53-Rashtriya Rifles signaled a Maruti car bearing registration number JK0IR-321 to stop at a naka in Chattergam at around 5:30 p.m. The car didn’t stop and Army fired on the vehicle injuring four persons critically who were removed to 92-Base hospital by the Army.
The slain youth have been identified as Fazal and Mehraj while the two injured have been identified as Shahid and Shakeel.
An Army spokesman said here: “Based on the specific intelligence reports about the movement of terrorists in a white Maruti 800 Car on November 3 along Nowgam to Pulwama road, three Mobile Vehicle Check Posts (MVCP) were established along the road.”
“At approximately, 5 pm, a white Maruti 800 car approached the first check point where the personnel tried to stop the car but it did not stop. Again at the second check point, the vehicle was stopped but it did not stop. At the third check point, the vehicle tried to barge through the check point, resulting into a firing incident in which four persons were injured. The injured were rushed to the Army Base Hospital, Srinagar. Two persons succumbed to their injuries and two are under treatment”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said: “Army regrets the loss of lives and has ordered an enquiry to investigate into the circumstance leading to the incident. Anyone found guilty will be severely dealt with.”
The 53 RR shot dead two Army personnel of 35 RR on October 23 in 2012 at same place. Army fired on the Sumo of the other unit two years ago thinking that the duo were militants.