Police said the army had laid an ambush in Gund Chogul, Handwara on Friday night and on noticing some suspicious movement they challanged and opened fire.
The army jawans allegedly shot dead a 24-year-old civilian in north Kashmir on suspicion, triggering fresh wave of protests in the Valley on Friday.
In a rare gesture, chief minister Omar Abdullah who was set to air-dash to Handwara to offer condolence to the bereaved family, had to take the road due to bad weather.
Omar hit out at the army for the killing.
“How can one not condemn the death of Manzoor at the hands of the army late last night. Another needless death in a bloody Kashmir.... I’m even more upset with the knowledge that if a suggestion of mine, made in the unified command could have avoided this incident,” Omar said on Twitter.
Police said the army had laid an ambush in Gund Chogul, Handwara on Friday night and on noticing some suspicious movement they challanged and opened fire.
“Manzoor Ahmad Magray, son of Ghulam Ahmad Magray, resident of Gund Chogul Handwara, died in this incident. A case has been registered in Handwara police station and investigation started,” police said.
Massive protests rocked Handwara and thousands of people took to streets shouting slogans against the army and demanding immediate action against those involved in the incident.
Expressing grief on the death of Manzoor, defence spokesman at Srinagar Lt Col JS Brar said the youth was killed because he did not stop after being challenged, prompting the troops to open fire.
“In accordance with the Standing Operative Procedures, the troops [first] challenged the [suspicious] individuals to surrender, but they tried to run away in the cover of darkness,” he said.
Manzoor’s father Ghulam Ahmad claimed that his son was taken from his house and killed him. “We ate dinner together and were preparing to retire to bed. Then came the army and took Manzoor away and killed him by the riverside. I urge the government to seek answers from the army. Everyone knows he was innocent,” he said.
The incident has evoked strong condemnation from both mainstream and separatist leaders. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti said the cold-blooded murder of another youth had exposed the state government.
“Killing innocents has been going unabated and the government has been brazenly indulging in farcical tactics. It is unfortunate that while the count of dead, mostly youngsters, keeps mounting the government is busy in deceiving people in the name of filing FIRs,” Mehbooba said. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) said the killing of the youth is another crime against humanity committed by the troopers in Kashmir.
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