Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Dec 17: A Sumo driver was killed in an Army ambush in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district today while Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara and around a dozen protesters were injured in clashes that broke out in protest against his killing. Authorities have ordered magisterial inquiry into the killing of the driver.
As per the residents, Sumo driver Asif Iqbal was killed in Thandipora village last night after he was coming out of his house to take a patient to hospital. They said that he was seriously injured in the firing and was shifted to a local hospital where from he was shifted to SMHS hospital where he succumbed to injuries.
SSP Kupwara, Shamsheer Hussain, said that the killing of the Sumo driver was a case of “mistaken identity”. He said that locals said that he was killed when he was coming out of his house but army said he was killed in an ambush laid against the militants in the village.
Police handed over the body of the slain to his family this morning after completing all medico-legal formalities. As the body reached Batapora, which is adjacent to Thandipora, thousands of people who were already waiting there took the body in a procession. They were raising slogans against the security forces and demanded punishment to the guilty.
At Batapora, Independent MLA Engineer Rashid also joined the protesters. He, however, was detained by police and taken to nearby police station. The protesters near Batapora were intercepted by police leading to clashes.
“We had requested people not to take law into their hands and the overall situation is peaceful. There were some clashes at Batapora and Kralpora but we fired few teargas shells and the situation was contained,” the SSP said.
Police fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters. The SSP Hussain was trying to persuade the villagers not to resort to violence and in the meantime, a stone hit him on the forehead. He was bleeding profusely and was taken to nearby hospital where his wound was stitched. However, despite injury he tried to calm down the situation. At least 12 protesters were also injured in the clashes. The body of the driver was later buried and thousands of people attended the funeral.
Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Khalid Jahangir, has ordered time bound probe into the killing of the driver. The Deputy Commissioner said that the ACR Kupwara has been appointed as the head of the inquiry committee, who will probe the matter and submit report within three weeks. “We have already ordered a magisterial probe and will investigate the case thoroughly so that if anyone is found guilty, action as per the law will be taken against that person,” he said.
Army’s Srinagar based Defence spokesman said: “Based on information of presence of militants in Thandipora village, army placed ambushes to maintain surveillance over the area on night 16/17 December. At around 2255 hours, ambush party observed suspicious movement of three persons near nallah in Thandipora village”.
“The individuals were challenged by troops. However, they did not respond. Thereafter, militants opened fire towards Army ambush party which was retaliated. In the crossfire, one person, later identified as Asif Iqbal Bhat, son of Mohammad Iqbal Bhat, resident of Thandipora was killed due to gunshot wound. It is learnt that he was a sumo taxi driver. Investigations are in progress”, the spokesman said.
And meanwhile, a police spokesman said that a case has been registered and investigations into the killing is on. “In reference to the incident occurred at Kupwara in which one civilian identified as Asif Iqbal Bhat son of Mohammad Iqbal resident of Thandipora was killed at Thandipora. Kupwara police has lodged an FIR in Police Station Kralpora and investigation has been started. Police and civil administration will provide all help to the bereaved family”, police spokesman said.
“As has been reported that during the intervening night of 16/17-12-2017 one person namely Asif Iqbal son of Mohammad Iqbal resident of Thandipora got seriously injured after being hit by a bullet at Thandipora in the jurisdiction of Police Station Kralpora. He was shifted to Sub District Hospital Kralpora for treatment where from he was referred to Srinagar Hospital for further treatment where he succumbed to his injuries. After completion of medico-legal formalities, the body of the deceased has been handed over to his legal heirs for last rites”, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has expressed grief over the death of a youth at Kupwara late last night.
The Chief Minister has directed the district administration to speed up the probe into the killing to know the reasons behind the incident and punish the persons, if found involved in the killing.
She also expressed sympathies with the bereaved family.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that FIR registered by the police in killing of a driver in alleged security force firing must be taken to a logical conclusion, Abdullah said ‘killed in cross fire can’t be a justification for it’.
“The FIR registered by the police must be taken to its logical conclusion. Killed in cross fire can’t be a justification for Asif Iqbal’s death,” Abdullah, wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
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