Kashmir: Youth killed in Army firing

File Photo Incident Date: 07/15/2011: Indian troopers in firing position during siege and search operation in lolab area of kupwara

Update 11|Feb|2012:

SRINAGAR, Feb 10:Kashmir Times Reports:Soldiers of 32 Rashtriya Rifles late this evening allegedly shot dead 20 year old Ashiq Hussain Rather son of Muhammad Akbar a resident of Laisar village of Rafiaabad in Baramulla district.

Violent protests were held in the area and police said they have registered a case against army.
Reports said the incident occurred late evening. As the news spread, the residents in hundreds took to streets and held strong protest demonstrations against army. They were demanding the arrest of soldiers involved into the killing of the youth.
Soon after the incident senior police and civil administration officers reached spot to pacify the protestors. The protests were going on when this report was being filed.
Speaking to Kashmir Times over phone from Rafiaabad, SP Sopore Imtiyaz Ahmad said that police has registered a case of murder against army. “We will investigate and truth will surface,” he said adding that doctors will carry out postmortem of the body.
SP added that army has admitted killing of the youth, however they claim that he was killed during the ambush. “People are not ready to buy the version of army. They demand stern action against army for killing of youth,” he said.
Defence spokesman Lt Col JS Barar said that incident has taken place late in the evening and they are ascertaining the facts. “Once facts are clear, we will give our version,” he said.
Director general police Kuldeep Khuda told KTNS that senior police officers are on the spot and case has been registered against army. “Tomorrow I will be visit the village to inquire into the killing of the youth,” he said and added justice will be given to affected family.

Greater Kashmir reports: A youth was killed allegedly by soldiers at Rafiabad in north Kashmir on Friday evening, Police sources said.
They said that soldiers of 32-RR had laid an ambush around Laisar village after a tip off about militants being present in the area. “On spotting a youth a soldier opened fire killing him on the spot.”
The deceased was identified as Ashiq Hussain Rather, 20, son of Muhammad Akbar of Laisar.
As the word about the incident spread people came out of their homes and staged a demonstration following which senior police officials rushed to the spot and took possession of the body.
Talking to Greater Kashmir Deputy Inspector General of Police north Kashmir Muneer Khan said,
“Police are investigating the circumstances in which the youth was killed. We have sent our teams to the area and they are ascertaining the facts.”
Protests in the area were on when this report was filed.
Army’s Srinagar based spokesman said, “We are ascertaining the facts.”

(AIP): A youth Ashiq Ahmad Rather of Watergam Rafiabad in north Kashmir was killed in an Army ambush late this evening. Reports said that Army had laid an ambush in the area in which the boy was trapped and killed.

Confirming the incident, PRO Defence JS Brar told Agence India Press (AIP) that details were awaited.

Update:11/02/2012