Srinagar
Police on Saturday issued a statement regarding the killing of three civilians in army firing at Hawoora village of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
“An army patrol in District Kulgam while moving through Hawoora Mishipora area this afternoon was pelted by miscreants,” the police spokesman said.
The spokesman in a statement said: “Consequently, the army tried to disperse the miscreants and in the process five individuals sustained injuries.”
“The injured persons were evacuated to nearby hospital. However, later three persons succumbed to the injuries including a girl while the other two individuals are stated to be stable,” the spokesman added.
Police has started an investigation into the matter.
Army Version
“An Area Domination Patrol ( ADP) of Army while moving in general area Hawoora, Kulgam came under heavy stone pelting. As the ADP tried to extricate, they were chased by an aggressive and menacing crowd of 400-500 persons which kept building up and coming dangerously close,” said Srinagar based Defense PRO Col Rajesh Kalia in a statement.
“Troops while exercising extreme restraint, cautioned the stone pelters, who, however, failed to relent and repeatedly threw petrol bombs and stones at the patrolling party,” Kalia in a statement said.
“ At one point of time, some unidentified militants also fired on the column. This resulted in some soldiers receiving grievous injuries. In response to this grave provocation and to ensure the security of own troops, controlled firing was resorted to by the Army which resulted in an unfortunate loss of human lives,” he said.
“The matter is being investigated to ascertain facts on the ground,” Defense PRO Col Rajesh Kalia in a statement.
