SRINAGAR: Hundreds of angry protesters clashed with police in Indian Kashmir on Tuesday, a day after soldiers shot dead two civilians, police said.
Police in the main city of Srinagar fired tear gas to disperse crowds of protesters chanting anti-India slogans and hurling rocks, an officer told AFP on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
The protests came after soldiers fired at a private car on the outskirts of Srinagar on Monday killing two passengers and critically wounding another two.
Kashmir's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the "avoidable deaths" had marred the political atmosphere, already strained by devastating floods in September, ahead of state elections due to start later this month.
"Such killings have no place in an otherwise improving security environment where militancy incidents are at record low levels," Abdullah tweeted.
Have spoken to Union Defence Minister @arunjaitley reg. yesterday's incident where army firing resulted in 2 avoidable deaths 1/n
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 4, 2014
Such killings have no place in an otherwise improving security environment where militancy incidents are at record low levels 2/n
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 4, 2014
These deaths have served to vitiate the poll atmosphere already strained by the post flood reconstruction challenge that people face 3/n
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 4, 2014
Separatists opposed to Indian rule have called for a strike on Wednesday to protest against the killings.
Police registered a criminal case against the soldiers, while the army ordered an enquiry into what it called the "unfortunate loss of lives."
"Nothing incriminating was found from the possession of slain or injured youth," police officer Muhammad Irshad told Greater Kashmir, a local daily.
The two victims were buried on Tuesday.
COMMENTS (19)
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@wb: @Indian: Yup I know. When the continents didn't break up and the whole planet was just one piece of land. That "land" was called India.. You should claim US to be a part of India too..
@Pakistani:
"Since when did it become “Indian Kashmir”? "
Before Islam came into existence.
@Pakistani: "Since when did it become “Indian Kashmir"
since the time of kashyap .
Let's ask the Pakistani security forces what would they have done in this situation. Would they have allowed the occupants of the vehicle to speed away without being challenged or would they try to stop them by all available means? If the answer is they would try to stop them, then the Indian forces did nothing wrong. But if the answer is they would let them slip away, then that explains why Pakistan has a problem with lawlessness.
Since when did it become "Indian Kashmir"? Writer, please get your facts straight and ET change the heading to Indian Occupied Kashmir. Be careful next time before publishing articles regarding Kashmir.
Not sure about the details, and can't verify the claims of the Army.
But, I find it hard to believe that soldiers fired on two people without a reason. I have been to Kashmir a few times, and the Indian soldiers there indeed need to be alert to possible attacks. And that perhaps makes them react on a hair trigger. This is not justifiable, and soldiers who commit such grave errors should be punished.
Having said that - If indeed the folks who got shot didn't stop at checkpost, they have no one else to blame but themselves.
The car didn't stop at the check post. It tried to speed up. The security forces had no way to know if the occupants of the car were suicide bombers or not. Tragic loss of lives, but the security forces can't be blamed entirely.
@Salman I urge you to watch the interview of Hamid Bashani Khan from "Azad Kashmir", by Tahir Gora in "Billatakaloof". That will dispel all your exaggerated media reports of how Indian Military men "vandalized" Kashmiris. And I won't even mention about the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu carried out by insurgents sent in by the Pakistani Military establishment.
It's funny people always talk about Kashmiris, but nobody talks about Jammu. Anybody recall these slogans from the '90's - "Yahan kya chalega ? Nizam-e-Mustafa" ? Enough said.
@Raj - USA: Please dont relate this incident to how the police act in the USA. I live in the US, and there is no oppressing army holding people against their wishes here. Recently a man even forced his way into the White House and no one fired on him. There are cases of police brutality here and those are harshly criticized and punished if found guilty. There is NO comparison between the US and the attrocities committed by the Indian Army in Indian-occupied Kashmir. If you want to talk of an example it would be of Israeli army and the palestinians.
@Cynic Waheed: Loss of life is always to be regretted. However you are bombing your insurgents in Zarb-e-Azb. We are doing no such thing. But if someone d oes ot stop at 2 checkposts and the issue is ignired and then they go ahead and do some terror act killing far more people? Who would be lamed? The same army for not providing security. Cannot have it both ways. If people do not stop at checkposts despite police asking them to, this is what would happen even in US.
All vehicles were being stopped for security check at this check post but they gate crashed the barrier and try to run over the soldiers who signalled them to stop. This raised suspicion of being terrorists who generally try to run away on being stopped on which soldiers opened fire which is as per norms. However, a high level inquiry has been ordered to find out the truth and personnel if found guilty shall be punished.
This loss of two lives is unfortunate. However, as others have pointed out, they were driving their car recklessly, did not stop at check posts, broke barriers and continued to do so even after warning. This loss of two lives will save many lives in the future as allowing these acts would encourage others to be foolish and stopping them will make others careful. In USA also, if you do not stop or obey orders when asked to do so by any policeman, they can shoot you and they have done it many times. Those who break the law cause loss of life and property of others and have to be stopped.
@Kirmani:
This is the easiest explanation any oppressive force gives up when countering separation forces. Indian Army atrocities in Kashmir is well recorded fact since decades and such incidents are pretty much norm in Kashmir.
I read that they didn't stop at two check points - and were fired upon.
Unfortunate incident !! Any incidence that involves human loss is Sad. I read that they were repeatedly told to stop their car but they kept driving and broke some barriers, forcing the forces to fire.
@ET please allow my reply to mr cynic.
@Cynic Waheed: Mr cynic waheed soldiers are there to fight insurgency , If you don't stop at check post and start driving rashly , In the vitiated environment this is bound to happen.
Really Bizzare - no Indians here today? What happend...? Doesnt feel like aPakistani newspaper anymore.. Please come and spit some venom here.. Thanks.
High handedness of security forces should be condemned. But maintaining peace is important.