Srinagar, November 7
The Army on Friday took responsibility for the killing of two youths in firing in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. The November 3 incident had sparked widespread outrage and protests across the Valley.

"We take responsibility for the death of two youths. I admit that mistake has happened," General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Army’s Northern Command, Lt Gen DS Hooda said. “We sincerely wish the incident would not have happened. We will ensure that such kind of incidents don’t happen in the future," he said.

Hooda announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of those killed and Rs 5 lakh for injured. The relief has been approved by the Ministry of Defence.

Faisal Yousuf (17) and Mehraj-u-din Dar (21) were killed and two others were injured when troops of 53 Rastriya Rifles, manning a checkpoint at Chattergam village in Budgam, opened fire on a car they were travelling in. While the J&K police have registered a murder case, a Colonel of the Rashtriya Rifles is holding probe into the circumstances which led to the killing of the youths.

“While we take responsibility of what has happened, the circumstances of the incident are being investigated...15 civilian witnesses have recorded their statements. We hope to complete the inquiry in the next 10 days,” Hooda said, adding that troops on ground are constantly taught ‘dos and don'ts of operating procedures’.

Hooda said the Army will cooperate with any other agency which might be asked to probe the incident. "We will fully cooperate with any other investigation that is to be done, whether by the police or ordered by the state government or otherwise," he said. Asked whether the Army would allow civilian trial in the case and not invoke the controversial Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), the Lt Gen said the two were not related.

“AFSPA has actually nothing to do with it. The probe is on and I assure you that there will be a transparent probe in the firing incident. If we find that rules of engagement have been violated, legal action would be taken,” he said.

The Army commander said the unit involved in the incident has been relocated from the area and troops of the 35 Rashtriya Rifles have been posted there now.

The J&K police, which is investigating the case too, has recorded statements of injured civilians.

The police are yet to question the troops accused of opening the fire.

The police said a communication has been to senior Army officers in this regard. “We are waiting for a response from the Army,” said a police officer.