Shopian firing: Indian Army files counter-FIR; one more protester dies

The Indian Army on Wednesday filed a counter-FIR in response to the one lodged by Jammu and Kashmir Police over the killing of two civilians in Shopian district last week.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday had filed an FIR under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 302— murder and 307— attempt to murder against the Indian Army personnel of 10, Garhwal unit, of the Army.

The Indian Army Major who led the Army personnel at the time of the incdent has been named in the FIR.

The Indian Army has claimed that they were forced to open fire in self-defence after seven of its personnel were injured in the mob attack at Shopian.

The Indian Army in its statement claimed that the forces had to open fire in self-defence to prevent lynching of a junior commissioned officer by a mob.

Indian Army spokesperson in its statement had said, “Administrative convoy was passing through Ganaupura chowk in Shopian when it came under intense stone pelting by a group of at least 100 people.”

Also read| Jammu and Kashmir: Two stone pelters killed, 7 Indian Army jawans injured in clash at Shopian

“Within no time, the numbers increased to 250 people. The huge mob surrounded an isolated portion of the convoy consisting of four vehicles. They tried to set the vehicle on fire,” read the statement.

The statement further added that a junior commissioned officer accompanying the convoy got hit and fell unconscious. “The mob tried to lynch the individual and snatch his weapon. The crowd further closed in towards the vehicle and attempted to set them on fire,” read the Army statement.