Aakash Hassan/Zafar Aafaq
Srinagar
After the killing of a middle-aged person in Panzgam village of Kupwara, locals and the scribes who had visited the area to cover militant attack detail how the killing took place .
Events in this village events unfolded after militants attacked in the wee hours of Thursday on army camp, that resulted in the killing of three army personnel including a Captain rank officer.
KL Images : Bilal Bahadur
The encounter went on to till afternoon and by then battery of media men were at the scene.
As the news of killing of two militants spread, clashes were reported in nearby Kralpora village. Police fired teargas shells on the protesters but were contained from marching ahead.
As two militant bodies were recovered from encounter site, locals said, they were taken to local heath center for medical examination.
“As the bodies were being examined locals gathered and demanded body of slain militants, a local said. “Slogans were raised against the forces and there were some minor clashes.”
Eyewitnesses said that in the meantime an Army officer aimed his gun towards the protesters and fired indiscriminately.
“Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, in his fifties, who was a spectator, was hit by bullet,” an eyewitness said.
He was referred to hospital in Trehgam but could not be saved.
“The killing was avoidable,” said Nazir Masoodi, senior journalist working with NDTV. “There was sloganeering and minor clashes. Police restrained and were handling the situation well but then suddenly Army opened fire.”
Bhat was a laborer and father of three children. As per locals , one of his son is serving in Army.
Thousands of people attended funeral of Bhat in the paddy field of Panzgam—a garrison village—as people could not be accommodated in the Jinaz Gah of village.
Soon after the news of civilian killing spread, surrounding areas of Panzgam went into mourning and minor clashes were also reported from some areas.
