Civilian deaths trigger protests against Army

The killing of two civilians—one of them the grandson of Kashmir’s former Divisional Commissioner—on Saturday...

The killing of two civilians—one of them the grandson of Kashmir’s former Divisional Commissioner—on Saturday at Aripal village near Tral town triggered massive protests on Sunday by angry villagers, with people not allowing the burial of the dead till late on Sunday afternoon. People alleged the Army had killed them and demanded that the two bodies be shown to the media before the last rites were performed.

The Army had apparently barred the media from reporting the incident and stopped mediapersons two kilometers ahead of the village. However, those who had come down from the village reported “unprovoked, cold-blooded murder of the two government employees while they were returning home from duty”. However, none of the villagers was witness to the killing.

“We heard the sound of gunfire soon after the Army cordoned the village late (on Saturday) afternoon. Then came the news that two villagers had been killed,” said a resident of Aripal, Ghulam Muhammad, who said he had managed to escape the cordon.

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The deceased were identified as Jahangir Ahmad Khan (25), a teacher in the Education Department and Ghulam Muhammad Mir (50), an employee in the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department.

The Army, however, said the two died in the crossfire during an encounter with militants. “We had specific information about the presence of militants in the village. When we were approaching the village, people informed the militants, who fled to the nearby jungles firing at us. It was in the exchange of fire that the civilians were killed,” Defence spokespersons M K Mathur told The Indian Express.

Mathur said the killings had spawned an angry protest by the villagers, thereby creating a “tough situation” for the forces. The incident also had a visible impact in entire south Kashmir with people observing a spontaneous shutdown.

The Army stopped all traffic movement to Aripal, barring not only the media but also kin of the deceased who wanted to attend their last rites. Among them was Parveena Akhter, sister of Jahangir, who pleaded to be allowed to catch a “final glimpse” of her brother. Jahangir was her only brother alive, after her younger brother Bilal Ahmad was killed by militants a few years ago. Militants had also shot her brother-in-law dead.