Kashmir Wire
Srinagar
Following assurances from civil and police administration that a case would be registered against the army and the guilty soldiers dealt under law, the villagers in Thandipora in Kupwara finally performed the last rites late this afternoon of a civilian allegedly gunned down by the army during an ambush last night.
At least 25 persons, 12 of them policemen including district police chief Shamsher Hussain were injured in the intense clashes which lasted over five hours in the village and its adjoining areas since wee hours as the news of the death of the civilian poured in.
Government forces have been deployed in the village in strength and the situation is gradually limping back to normalcy, officials said.
However, internet services remained suspended in the district.
Earlier, police registered a case and started the investigation into the killing of the civilian driver allegedly by army last night, but agitated villagers remained adamant not to perform last rites of the deceased till a murder case is registered against the army soldiers responsible for this “inhuman act”.
However, when the civil and police authorities assured the villagers that suitable action will be initiated, they pacified and agreed to perform last rites of the deceased.
Intense clashes broke out in the frontier district town of Kupwara this morning, following killing of the civilian allegedly by army soldiers during an ambush laid by them in Thandipora village in the jurisdiction of police station Kralpora last night.
Raising pro-freedom and anti-government slogans, villagers of Thandipora took to streets this morning to protest the killing of the civilian identified as Asif Iqbal and demanded registration of a murder case against the army, eyewitnesses said.
The government forces deployed in strength in the area fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
SSP Shamsher Hussain and about a dozen policemen were injured in the clashes. The police officer was hit by a stone on his face and received a few stitches, officials said.
They said at least 13 civilians also received injuries in the clashes which lasted more than five hours in the village and adjoining areas including Batpora.
In order to pacify the agitators, police lodged an FIR in Kralpora police station this afternoon and said it has started investigations. “Police and civil administration will provide all help to the bereaved family”, a police spokesman said.
He said after completion of medico-legal formalities, the body of the deceased has been handed over to his legal heirs for last rites.