Jammu and Kashmir, Aug 05: A cattle trader was killed and another injured in firing by Army personnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district on Sunday, the police said. Police have filed a First Information Report against the Army personnel involved at Dharamkund police station, Senior Superintendent of Police Mohan Lal told PTI.
Mohammad Rafiq Gujjar, 28, and 30-year-old Shakeel Ahmad, both residents of Gool, were fired upon by soldiers of the 58 Rashtriya Rifles when they were leaving Kohli village around 4 am, PTI reported. While Gujjar died on the spot, Ahmad was injured and was shifted to a hospital.
The Army, however, claimed it had retaliated after coming under fire, Greater Kashmir reported. “On August 5, an operation was launched by Army based on specific intelligence inputs in Kohli area of Gool, Ramban,” said Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand. “At 3.45 am, the Army patrol saw some suspicious activity. The suspected individuals were challenged by the Army as per standard operating procedure. On being challenged, the suspected individuals opened fire upon the Army patrol. The Army patrol retaliated effectively.”
The Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, which represents Gujjars in the state, demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident. The organisation has also written to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. “The community demanded that a strong directive must be issued to security forces so that more such incidents do not occur in tribal areas any more,” the foundation said in a statement.
Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also condemned the incident. “Is it part of the Muslim killing under the garb of ‘cow protection’ or Kashmiri killing under the garb of ‘anti-national’ we wonder?” he asked.
Courtesy: scroll.in
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Mangaluru: State Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara faced sharp criticism from leaders within the Dakshina Kannada District Congress during his visit to Mangaluru on Saturday morning.
Dr. Parameshwara had arrived in the city to review the recent law and order developments in the district. While he was listening to party workers' grievances at the Circuit House in the presence of District In-Charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, several Congress leaders voiced strong dissatisfaction.
Leaders including K.K. Shahul Hameed, former Mayor K. Ashraf, and Suhail Kandak alleged that despite the Congress being in power, injustices against Muslims continue. They accused the state police department of operating in alignment with right-wing forces and expressed concern over the increasing number of attacks and attempted murders targeting Muslims.
Sources indicate that the Home Minister assured the party leaders that appropriate action would be taken in response to their concerns.