Kashmir lecturer's killing: Raids were not sanctioned; such acts won't be tolerated, says Army

Amid an outrage in Kashmir, Army on Friday said that actions by its soldiers like the one in which a lecturer was killed will not be tolerated. "These raids were not sanctioned in the first place. It is unjusitified. Nobody can support it and it will not be tolerated," Northern Army Commander Lt Gen DS Hooda told reporters here.

He said an inquiry has been ordered into the incident that took place during the intervening night of August 17 and 18 in Khrew area of Pulwama district.

Shabir Ahmad Monga, a lecturer, was killed and 18 others sustained injuries when they were thrashed by army personnel who were conducting nocturnal raids to arrest stone pelters in the area.

Asked about the circumstances that led to the incident, the army commander said according to information he has, the troops came under stone pelting by the mobs.

"The instructions are there to exercise maximum restraint but these are difficult times. The security forces are facing tough times and sometimes things get out of hand," he added.