M A I N   N E W S

Kupwara youth dies in Army operation
Villagers protest; case slapped on troops
Ehsan Fazili/TNS

Srinagar, February 5
A student was killed allegedly during an ambush by the Army in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, following which a murder case was registered today against the unit which carried out the operation.

The incident, which comes four days after the mysterious killing of two sisters in Sopore, triggered a massive protest. Angry residents of Chogul village (to which the victim belonged) in Handwara blocked the Sopore-Kupwara road at Kulangam, demanding arrest of the Army personnel involved in the incident.

A case under Section 302 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) was registered against the 4 Para unit of the Army. The government has also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. It would be conducted by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara. An ex gratia grant of Rs one lakh has also been announced for the victim’s family.

According to villagers, Manzoor Ahmad Magray (19) was asked to come out of his house at 9.45 pm yesterday by troopers, who knocked at the window of his room. Later, Magray’s body was found near a bridge adjoining at around 6.45 am today. The police took the body in its custody and later handed it over to the villagers.

A police spokesman said that the Army laid an ambush in Gund Chogul village last night and on “noticing some suspicious movement it opened fire”. One person, Manzoor Ahmad Magray, of Gund Chogul village died in the incident.

Regretting the loss of life in the operation, Defence spokesman Lt Col JS Brar, in a statement, said that based on specific intelligence about movement of militants, the Army had laid an ambush last night to trap them. At around 22.30 hours, the troops detected suspicious movement of two persons.

“As per the Standing Operative Procedures, the troops challenged the individuals to surrender. Both individuals paid no heed and attempted to run away under the cover of darkness. The troops opened fire resulting in fatal injuries to Manzoor Ahmad Magray while the other unidentified person escaped,” said the spokesman.

Although the troops strictly adhered to the procedures, the Army regrets the loss of life, more so, as the year has been declared by the Army as the year of the ‘Kashmiri Awam’, he said. “We deeply and sincerely express our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family,” he added. (With PTI inputs)