The Hindu : National : Killing of civilian: action demanded against Armymen

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Saturday, Feb 10, 2007
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National

National

Killing of civilian: action demanded against Armymen

Shujaat Bukhari

ARIGAM (TRAL): People took to the streets in Tral area of south Kashmir on Friday in protest against the killing of a civilian allegedly by the Rashtriya Rifles. According to the Army, three security personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, were killed in a gunbattle in which the civilian was killed.

The rally looked like an extension of the unprecedented protests that have rocked the Valley for the last 10 days. The protesters, which included several women, marched towards Tral town, about 50 km from here.

Disputing the Army version that the civilian, Mohammad Afzal Kumar, was killed by a fleeing militant, the residents alleged that Kumar was at a local mosque, when he was called out by the troops of the 42 Rashtriya Rifles. "He was dragged out by the troops and he was pleading with them that he was a civilian but they did not listen and showered a volley of bullets on him," said Farooq Ahmad, a neighbour.

Even as the Army said that a night patrol of the Rashtriya Rifles unit was attacked by militants and three soldiers were killed, the people said: "There was no encounter at all. They are lying. Let them show us the body."

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