Srinagar, Jul 25: A 26-year-old youth was killed in an army firing in Bandipora district of Kashmir, leading to massive protests by local residents who alleged he was killed after being taken into custody.
Hilal Ahmad Dar was killed in army firing at Ashtengoo Naar area of Bandipora district, 55 km from here, late last night, official sources said today.
An Army spokesman said the youth was killed following an exchange of fire with militants during an ambush operation laid by the troops of 27 Rashtriya Rifles.
He did not specify whether the deceased was involved in militancy but claimed recovery of an AK-47 rifle and some ammunition from the scene of “encounter”. He said the body and the weapon were handed over to local police.
As Dar's body, who was working as security guard with a private company, was handed over to his next of kin, local residents took to streets and staged a demonstration at his native Aloosa village, the sources said.
They said the locals refused to bury the body till Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the village. The protesters alleged that Dar was shot dead in cold blood and without any provocation.
The body was taken in a procession from Aloosa towards Bandipora town but the protesters were intercepted by police near Quil village, resulting in clashes that left three protesters and two policemen - including an officer - injured, the sources said.
The sources said as the clashes intensified, police had to use force to disperse the protesters who left the body behind.
The body was kept in the camp of 27 Rashtriya Rifles while senior police and civil administration officials tried to pacify the local elders, they said.
The separatist camp condemned the killing with hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani terming it as “state terrorism” and part of “genocide policy”.
Kashmir High Court Bar Association alleged that the youth was arrested by the Army a day earlier and later killed.
JKLF headed by Mohammad Yasin Malik also accused the Army of killing the youth in custody and trying to cover it up by describing Dar as a militant.
This was the second such incident in three days as another youth was injured in an ambush operation by Army at Malangam in Bandipora.
