Massive protests rock Rajouri after two youth found dead outside Army camp

 

People refuse to buy army’s ‘terrorist attack theory’, block Poonch-Rajouri highway, demand fair probe; Will ensure thorough investigations, says DIG Hasseb Mughal

 

Jammu, Dec 16  : Killing of two civilians outside an army camp in garrison town Rajouri on Friday sparked massive protests with locals demanding a “fair probe.”

However, the army said that the duo was shot dead by “unidentified terrorists”.

Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that two civilians, both working in the private shops inside the cantonment, were shot around 6 am in the morning outside the Alpha Gate of the army unit, while one person was injured and shifted to the hospital.

The slain have been identified as Kamal Kishore son of Radu Ram and Surinder Kumar son of Om Parkash – both residents of Phayalana ward number 15 Rajouri.

After the news broke, hundreds of people came out of their homes and blocked the vital Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch Highway in the morning, charging the Army jawans with killing two civilians at a firing incident.

A section of the protestors burnt tyres on the road to enforce the blockade while some others, allegedly pelted stones at an Army camp in the area, which compounded the situation. Protesters alleged that both the deceased were working inside the camp and allegedly shot by the sentry. The protestors shouted slogans demanding stern actions against the Army jawans, who were involved in the incident of firing. They further urged the authorities to lodge a formal complaint with the police. The tension refused to die down till evening.

Adding fuel to fire, Army’s 16 Corps issued a statement in the morning around 10.00 am, about four hours after the incident, claimed that both civilians were shot by ‘unidentified terrorists’, which attacked the camp in early morning hours.

In a tweet, the army’s White Knight Corps said: “In an early morning firing incident by unidentified terrorists at Rajauri near Military Hospital, there has been fatal casualty of two individuals. The Police, security forces and civil administration officials are on the site.”

However, the locals refused to buy army’s claim and continued protests and blocked Jammu-Poonch Highway.

In another tweet, around 12 noon, after two hours of first statement, the army said that investigation is underway in the incident.

“Further to the firing incident in Rajouri, DIG Rajouri-Poonch range & DC Rajouri are at the incident site. Investigations are underway,” the army said.

Sources also informed that in the afternoon a written commitment signed by the Army’s Station Commander, District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police of Rajouri, the authorities promised that the Army would support children of the deceased with free education up to the college level. They further assured the deceased families of permanent jobs, for one of the dependents in addition to a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the deceased families.

Dr Haseeb Moughal, DIG, Rajouri-Poonch Range and Vikas Kaundal, DC, Rajouri, reached the incident site and tried to pacify the angry protestors outside the gate of the Army camp.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police said that an FIR has been registered and a fair probe will be done. He said the bodies have been sent to the medical college for the post-mortem examination.

The police lodged an FIR number 645 under 302, 307, 323, 7/27 at Police station Rajouri and initiated a probe.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti demanded an impartial probe into the incident.

She tweeted: “Tragic that two innocent lives were lost allegedly due to firing by the army. An impartial probe must be carried out to ensure that culprits are punished.”

Apni Party Provincial President Jammu and Former Minister, Manjit Singh also condemned the killing of two civilians.

In a statement to the press, the Former Minister said that the incident should be investigated by an independent agency and the victims who were shot dead should be given compensation by the Government.

“The incident must be investigated and the persons responsible for the opening of fire on the civilian must be brought to book,” he said and demanded that the peaceful atmosphere should be not disturbed in the region with this incident and the security agencies must be allowed to do their work so that the accused persons can be identified and booked under the appropriate law.

He said that the authorities must act swiftly to calm down the tempers of the locals who have agitated against the civilian killing and ensure—(KNO)