J-K cops file case against Army for firing at villagers

Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a case against the Army for allegedly injuring six civilians in Kupwara’s Drusoo village. The State Human Rights Commission chairman Hamidullah Bhat on Tuesday sent notices to IG Police S M Sahai and Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara asking them to submit a detailed report of the incident before February 25.

On Saturday, a patrol party of 28 Rashtriya Rifles saw bloodstains on snow in Drusoo village and believed it to be that of an injured militant. The villagers, on the other hand, maintained that the blood on the snow was that of an injured calf. Later, villagers had an argument with the Army personnel that resulted in a scuffle inside the house of one Abdul Jabbar. They alleged that the Armymen opened fire, injuring six of them.

Terming the allegations baseless, Army spokesman, Lt Col A K Mathur said, “The blood trail ended at a house. When the jawans tried to enter into the house, three people stopped them. The civilians entered into an argument with the jawans. In the scuffle, a rifle went off accidentally. No one was hurt.”