The army commander's statement also came at a time when death toll in Saturday's army firing rose to three, after another injured civilian of Shopian succumbed in the hospital.
Seemingly upset over the naming of an Army officer in the First Information Report (FIR) in the Shopian killing case, Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu on Wednesday said the troops acted in self-defence and the police should have filed a generic FIR.
The remarks come on the day when Jammu and Kashmir Police incorporated the version of the army in the FIR to investigate the matter thoroughly from all angles. The army commander's statement also came at a time when death toll in Saturday's army firing rose to three, after another injured civilian of Shopian succumbed in the hospital.
Rayees Ahmad had suffered grievous wounds when army troops opened fire at a group of stone pelters at Ganawpora village in Shopian on Saturday. He was shifted to Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar where he succumbed at 3 AM on Wednesday.
"It is an unfortunate thing. Probably, a generic FIR should have been filed to come to conclusion as to what exactly happened. They have probably prematurely put the name of an individual. I am sure over a period of time, when they investigate, the truth will come out," said Lieutenant General Anbu.
The police has registered a case under Section 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 336 (endangering life) of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) against the troops of 10 Garhwal unit, led by a Major.
Northern Army Commander noted that the troops responded in self defence after they were provoked to ultimate.
"We have done our own enquiry and we are sure that we responded only after being provoked to the ultimate. It is in self defence and protection of the property of the government that has been wrested on us. I do not find anything to really fear. In the coming days, the investigation will prove this. We don't have much to worry on this," he said.
Lieutenant General Anbu hoped that everything will be cleared once the investigation begins. "I feel this is the initial step (lodging FIR). They have just lodged an FIR and the investigation is yet to commence. Probably everything will pan out in the investigation, notwithstanding what the state government has done," he said.
The army commander noted that they have been very professional and have always discharged their duty with conviction.
"The version army gave the next day (after the firing incident) has been added to the same file. FIR is the same and investigation is underway," Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar, Superintendent of Police, Shopian, told DNA.
Two youth — Javiad Ahmad Bhat and Suhail Javaid Lone — were killed when troops of 10 Garhwal unit fired at a stone pelting mob at Ganawpora village on Saturday. Seven army men, including Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were injured in the stone pelting on their convoy.
2 YOUTHS KILLED
Two youths — Javiad Ahmad Bhat and Suhail Javaid Lone — were killed when troops fired at a stone-pelting mob. Rayees Ahmad succumbed on Wednesday.
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