JOIN USProtests erupted in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Wednesday after a 21-year-old youth was killed by Army on Tuesday night in the Helmathpora forests of Ashtangoo, 55 km from here.
While the Army maintains the deceased, Hilal Ahmad Dar, was a militant and killed in an ambush, locals deny the claims.
Reports said at least 10 people, including SHO Bandipora, were injured in the day-long clashes which erupted following news of the youth’s killing. Army’s Srinagar-based spokesman, Lt Col J S Brar, in a statement said that on information regarding movement of two to three terrorists at Alusa-Halmatpura, “surveillance-cum-ambush” was launched in the Ashtangoo Nar area on Tuesday night.
“Around 11:45pm, the ambush party noticed suspicious movement. On being challenged, the ambush party of 27 Rashtriya Rifles was fired upon. A brief fire fight ensued,”he claimed.