Conflict
Shopian bloodbath: Death toll five as another body found, massive protests in South Kashmir, high speed internet suspended
Srinagar: In the aftermath of the blood bath in Shopian, a dead body of another civilian has been found, taking the death toll to five.
Gowhar Ahmad Lone (24), a resident of Moolu, Trenz, was found dead barely 250 meters away from the spot were a militant and three civilians were killed on Sunday evening.
He was found dead behind the steering of his car, reported GNS news agency.
Moreover, the bullet ridden body of the militant, identified as Ashiq Hussain Bhat, a resident of Rakhpora, Shopian was found in an orchid in Saidpora village of the district. According to the GNS, he was affiliated with the militant outfit Lashkar-Toiba. He had joined the militant ranks last year.
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The orchid where his body was found, is almost 10 kms away from the spot where three civilians and a militant was killed, which rose to four after another dead body was found.
Massive clashes erupted at several areas in south Kashmir on Monday to protests the Shopian killings.
Reports said people, including women and children, took to the streets in Tral, Awantipora, Pulwama, Shopian and many other villages and towns of south Kashmir, triggering massive clashes with government forces in these areas.
Meanwhile, high speed internet has been suspended across Kashmir to prevent ‘rumours from spreading’.
Last month three civilians were murdered by the Army in Ganowpora area of Shopian, after a crowd threw stones at them. They had come to remove ‘black banners’ which the people didn’t allow.
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The army according to eyewitnesses retaliated with firing. Witnesses added that army fired upon youth directly resulting in the injuries of at least 11 persons.
The Army however said that they fired in ‘self defence’ after they were provoked to the ‘ultimate’ by a stone throwing crowd.
The BJP, coalition partner of the ruling PDP had demanded that the FIR against the Army should be withdrawn and a new one lodged without naming anyone. However, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that the investigation would be taken to its ‘logical end.’
A BJP leader Subramanian Swamy threatened Mehbooba Mufti to withdraw the FIR against the army otherwise her government would be toppled.
ALSO READ: Shopian Civilian Murders: Continuous deaths and endless mourning
“What’s this nonsense? Dismiss that government. Tell Mehbooba (Mufti) to withdraw the FIR else her government would be toppled,” Swamy told ANI.
Eventually, the Indian Supreme Court stayed the FIR against Army and said that that no coercive action should be initiated against the Army personnel.
