Sopore Attack: Family accuses troopers of killing civilian, CRPF denies allegations

Srinagar, July 01: Srinagar family Wednesday accused Para-military troopers of killing the elderly man in North Kashmir’s Sopore town. They alleged that Bashir Ahmed, a resident of Mustafa Abad HMT area of Srinagar was dragged out from the vehicle and shot at point blank range by Para-military troopers after militants attacked the CRPF party.

CRPF Spokesperson in his version to news agency KNT while divulging information about the shootout, said that today at around 07:30 hours Golf Company of 179 Battalion CRPF reached Model Town Chowk of North Kashmir’s Sopore for Naka/patrolling duties.

“As the troops were alighting from the vehicles to occupy their respective spots of deployment, militants hiding in the attic of a nearby mosque started firing indiscriminately on the troops, resulting in injuries to 4 CRPF personnel. These include Constable Bhoya Rajesh, Head Constable Deep Chand Verma, Constable Deepak Patil and Constable Nilesh Patil. Head Constable Deep Patil succumbed to his injuries while one civilian died on spot in the militant attack.”

Refuting the claims made by the CRPF, the family of slain civilian alleged that Bashir Ahmed was killed in cold blood. “We received phone calls from Sopore who informed us that our father has been killed by troopers,” the son of the deceased told KNT.

Quoting eyewitnesses, the son said that little kid who was accompanying his grandfather was terrified after troopers shot him dead. “My father was 65 year old and he had gone to Sopore for some work. He was a Contractor by profession and was accompanying his grandson,” he said. (KNT)