Srinagar, Jan 31
The Indian Army has filed a counter-FIR in response to the one lodged by the Jammu and Kashmir Police regarding firing in Shopian as one more civilian succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.
Rayees Ahmad, who was injured in the firing by the Army in Shopian on January 27, succumbed to his injuries at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS).
With this, the death toll in the firing has risen to three.
Meanwhile, Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu said the Army opened fire into a crowd in Shopian in the face of the “ultimate provocation” by a stone-pelting crowd.
Calling the FIR against the Army “unfortunate”, Lt Gen Anbu said there should have been a generic FIR in the matter.
“That is an unfortunate thing, in such a case a generic FIR should have been filed. I think they have prematurely put the name of an individual, I am sure when they investigate truth will come out. Notwithstanding what the state government did, we had our own inquiry and are clear that we responded when we were provoked to the ultimate,” he added.
On January 27, two civilians were killed and nine others injured reportedly after the Army opened fire on a stone-pelting mob in Ganowpora village.
Following the outrage over the killings, the state police had earlier registered a case under Sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Ranbir Penal Code against the personnel of 10, Garhwal unit, of the Army.
