Shabir Ahmad Monga, a lecturer, was killed and 18 others sustained injuries when they were thrashed by army personnel who were conducting nocturnal raids to arrest stone pelters in the area.
A security jawan stands guard during night curfew in Lal Chowk area of Srinagar on Sunday. (PTI Photo)Shabir Ahmad Monga, a lecturer, was killed and 18 others sustained injuries when they were thrashed by army personnel who were conducting nocturnal raids to arrest stone pelters in the area. (File Photo)Amid the outrage in Kashmir, Army Friday said actions by its soldiers, like the one in which a lecturer was killed, will not be tolerated. “These raids were not sanctioned in the first place. It is unjustified. Nobody can support it and it will not be tolerated,” Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D S Hooda told reporters here.
He said an inquiry has been ordered into the incident that took place during the intervening night of August 17 and 18 in Khrew area of Pulwama district. Shabir Ahmad Monga, a lecturer, was killed and 18 others sustained injuries when they were thrashed by army personnel who were conducting nocturnal raids to arrest stone pelters in the area.
Asked about the circumstances that led to the incident, the army commander said according to the information he has, the troops came under stone pelting by the mobs. “The instructions are there to exercise maximum restraint but these are difficult times. The security forces are facing tough times and sometimes things get out of hand,” he added.
The J&K government registered a case of murder against the “Army and others” on Thursday. Residents of Sharshali said scores were injured when the Army personnel entered the village Wednesday night and hit people with “rods and planks with nails”.
Lecturer Shabir Ahmad Mango, among those taken away by the Army personnel, was brought dead to Pampore hospital early Thursday.
Block Medical Officer Dr Saba told The Indian Express: “He (Shabir) was brought here by police at 5.30 in the morning. He was brought dead. He had external injuries on the face and chest.”
Abdul Majeed, a resident of Sharshali, said Army personnel came to the village Wednesday night. “It was around 10.30 pm when Army vehicles entered our village from different directions. The men entered every house. They were also carrying rods and planks with nails. Anyone who came in their way was beaten.