Even as the Jammu and Kashmir government ordered a time-bound magisterial probe into the killing of 28-year-old taxi driver Asif Iqbal in Kupwara, Indian Army is not happy with a senior police officer in the district over handling of the case.
Sources said the Army's main grouse is that the police officer 'without any proof' told media persons that locals have alleged that "the Army opened fire" in which Iqbal got killed at Thandipora village in Kupwara district.
Army has maintained that Iqbal was killed in a cross-fire on Saturday night. On Sunday, the defence spokesman at Srinagar said that Army placed ambushes to maintain surveillance over the area on Saturday night based on information about the presence of terrorists in the area.
"At around 10:55 pm the ambush party observed suspicious movement of three persons near Nallah in Thindipora village. After being challenged by troops, the terrorists opened fire towards the ambush party which was retaliated. Asif Iqbal Bhat was killed in the cross-fire due to a gunshot wound. Investigations are in progress," he said.
Kupwara District Commissioner Khalid Jahangir had ordered a magisterial enquiry and asked the inquiry officer to submit the report within three weeks.
However, the army is not happy the way the senior police officer dealt with the issue. "What prompted him to point fingers at us when probe was yet to be completed? The government has set up enquiry, and law should take its own course. Why did the police officer jump gun? This is a serious issue and one cannot brush it under the carpet", said an officer.
The issue has also created a friction between the two alliance partners of the government. Sources in the BJP said that leaders were not happy at the finger pointing at the Army.
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