Indian Kashmir Government Orders Probe into Firing by Indian Troops

Published August 4th, 2001 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

The government in Indian administered Kashmir Saturday ordered a probe into Friday's firing by security forces on a procession of mourners, in which two people were killed and sixteen injured, officials said. 

"The divisional commissioner has asked me to conduct an inquiry," said Rohit Kansal, the chief administrator of central Kashmir's Budgam district, where the shooting incident took place. 

Magam town, 30 kilometres(18.6 miles) north of Srinagar, where Friday's firing took place, is in Budgam district. 

"Formal order will be issued in a day or two," Kansal said. 

Eyewitnesses said Friday that security forces had opened fire on a crowd of about 20,000 mourners in Magam town, 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) north of Srinigar. 

The mourners had been returning from a prayer meeting for three militants killed last Monday during a mosque siege. 

A border guard spokesman said the initial gunfire had come from the mourners, but local residents insisted the security forces had acted without provocation. 

Eighteen people were hospitalized with injuries, of which two, including a 12-year-old boy, later succumbed to their injuries. 

Five others were in serious condition, doctors said -- SRINAGAR, India (AFP) 

 

© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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