Civilian, CRPF trooper killed in Sopore shootout
Slain civilian’s family cries ‘murder’, police rejects claim
Srinagar: Police on Wednesday said that a CRPF trooper and civilian were killed while three paramilitary CRPF men were injured in a militant attack in Sopore town of north Kashmir Baramulla district.
“Today at about 0740 hours, (militants) fired indiscriminately upon joint party of Police and CRPF from attic of a nearby mosque near Nowpora crossing Model Town Sopore,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.
“In the attack four CRPF personnel and a civilian got injured. Among injured, one CRPF Personnel and the civilian succumbed to their injuries,” he said. The killed civilian has been identified as Bashir Ahmad Khan son of Ghulam Mohammad Khan of Mustafa Colony HMT Srinagar.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the (militants) were hiding in a mosque and as the joint party were de-boarding the vehicles for naka duty, they were fired upon indiscriminately by the hiding (militants),” he said, adding, “Pertinent to mention that the killed civilian who was accompanied by his 3 year grandchild were passing through the area when the (militants) fired indiscriminately.”
He said four CRPF troopers and the civilian were hit by bullets fired indiscriminately by militants.
“The civilian and CRPF personnel received bullet of (militants) initially before our retaliation. Hiding (militants) escaped from the mosque and our parties followed them and retaliated. However, the minor boy was rescued by the Police/CRPF,” he said, adding, “Credible input indicates that two LeT (militants), Osman, a foreigner and Nasir are involved in the attack on the joint party.”
He said a case under relevant sections of law was registered by police and investigation was in progress. “The officers continue to work to establish the full circumstances of this (incident).”
Meanwhile, in a video statement that was shared on social media, slain man’s son Suhail Ahmad alleged his father was killed by the CRPF personnel.
Suhail said the CRPF personnel “dragged him from his car and shot him dead”.
Khan, who was a contractor, had taken his grandson from Srinagar to Sopore to oversee the progress of a construction work.
Soon after the video started doing round on social media and “apprehending law and order situation”, Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar called a Press Conference.
“When militants started firing in which a CRPF trooper was killed and three others were injured, a civilian vehicle was going from the area. The man left the vehicle in panic and started to runaway for safety by carrying his 3-year-old grandson in his lap. The fire also hit and he died,” he said, adding, “People spread false information. In fear of miscreants, militants, his son issued a video which is totally wrong.”
The top police officer appreciated the local SHO who he said “rescued the child by putting his own life to peril.”
Kumar said this was the second incident after the Pampore where militants have misused a mosque’s premises as part of their attack. The police officer appealed mosque managements to prevent the misuse of mosques by militants. (GNS)
KV News
