A college lecturer died in the early hours of Thursday after soldiers allegedly raided a village in Pulwama district following protests. The Army has ordered a probe.
Family members of Shabir Ahmad Mongoo, 30, a resident of Pulwama district’s Khrew area, accused the Army of raiding Shaar Saali village around 10.30 p.m. on Wednesday and thrashing residents till 2 a.m.
“The soldiers raided more than a dozen houses and picked up several youths. In the morning, his body was handed over to a hospital,” alleged Mongoo’s family. A Srinagar hospital confirmed that it received 15 injured civilians from the area. Police claimed stones were pelted at the soldiers, but said the Army’s 50 Rashtriya Rifles’ role will be under the scanner. “It is regrettable. It was a joint patrol. One death has taken place. We are looking into it and due process of investigation will take place,” said General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Satish Kumar Dua.
Thursday’s incident comes in the wake of numerous allegations levelled by residents in Bandipora, Pulwama and Kulgam districts that the Army was raiding villages and beating up residents where pro-freedom protests are being held.
