The Army landed itself in a new controversy in the Valley when two persons died and five others were injured in a shootout today in Chitru Dangerpora village in Budgam district.While angry residents said they had been fired at by men of the Rashtriya Rifles, the Army maintained that militants had opened fire at the troops and civilians had been caught in it.The incident sparked off demonstrations in the area, forcing police to register a case against the Rashtriya Rifles. The government has ordered an inquiry into the incident.An Army spokesman said it was militant fire that targeted civilians. But police and eyewitneses maintained that RR men opened fire after they were attacked with kangris by residents, furious because a jawan slapped an elderly man during a cordon-and-search operation in the morning.While Farooq Ahmad Da of Chitru died on the spot, Ghulam Hassan Magloo succumbed to injuries in hospital later.DIG Hemant Lohia said: ‘‘We have registered an FIR against the Army and a probe has already been ordered. The government has sanctioned an ex gratia relief of Rs 100,000 to the next of kin of the dead.’’Meanwhile, 12 persons were injured when militants lobbed a grenade at security forces near Bisco school in Lal Chowk. In downtown Bohri Kadal area, a securityman was injured in another grenade attack.
