Says it’s case of mistaken identity
Abid Bashir
Srinagar, Sept 09: Eid enthusiasm turned into mourning in Kudara village of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district after a 38-year-old civilian Manzoor Ahmad Peswal was shot dead by army men in the wee hours of Thursday. Army has confirmed the killing but termed it as case of “mistaken identity”.
Locals told Rising Kashmir that Manzoor was shot dead by ambush party of 14 Rashtriya Rifles stationed in the area. “Manzoor left home after Sehri to bring some fodder for his cattle. However, on way to the forest army shot him from close range without any warning.”
“We heard continuous gunshots and when we went out to ascertain the cause of firing, we saw Manzoor’s body lying in a pool of blood in the nearby forests,” they said.
They alleged that immediately after the death, the army men reached the spot and threatened them of dire consequences if they raised voice against army and protested against his killing.
“He had promised his wife and lone child that he would go for Eid shopping once he returned from the forest,” said Manzoor’s uncle Bashir Ahmed. “But fate had something else in store for him.”
Meanwhile, the killing of Manzoor triggered massive protests in the area. They demanded an independent probe into his killing and action against the army men involved. Later, thousands of people participated in Manzoor’s funeral prayers before he was buried in a local graveyard.
“He was deliberately killed by army men. If it is a case of mistaken identity as claimed by army, why did they (troopers) take his body along with them to their base camp?” the locals questioned.
Sources in a Bandipore hospital said the deceased had sustained five bullet injuries in head, neck and chest.
The locals also accused army of harassing locals in the area for the past many days. “Army had been questioning youth about the presence of militants in the area,” said a local.
Army sources said troopers had received inputs about the presence of a group of militants in the area earlier this week and had already launched manhunt in the area.
Army spokesman in Srinagar, Lt Col J S Brar while confirming the killing said army had launched an operation in a no-habitation area in Kudara area of Bandipore. “We noticed a suspicious movement of a person at 2 am. We fired warning shots and the person started running. He was fired upon and sustained injuries. The army men gave him first-aid but he succumbed to injures,” he said.
Brar termed the incident as “very unfortunate”.
Meanwhile, police has lodged an FIR of murder case under section 205/210.
“FIR has been lodged and investigations are on to trace the culprit,” a police official said.
