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Kashmir firing : Army releases video to claim there was no molestation

by IBNS 12 Apr 2016, 08:36 pm

Handwara, Jammu and Kashmir, Apr 13 (IBNS) A day after three persons, including a young cricketer and a 70-year-old woman were killed in firing during protests over alleged molestation of a college student, the army on Wednesday released a video of the girl's statement to refute allegations against its members.

According to media reports, the army says it has not filmed the video, in which the girl alleges harassment by a local but does not talk about molestation by any soldier.

Though regretting the firing, the army, now equipped with the video, says it's a proof that there was an "intention to malign" the force.

The girl's statement was recorded on a mobile phone when she was reportedly taken by the police during the protests.

As allegations that the girl had been molested by an army man, triggered massive protests  in Handwara, around 70 km from Srinagar.

The police say security forces opened fire when some 500 protesters surrounded an army post, started throwing stones and tried to burn it.

Naeem Bhatta, a promising cricketer who had participated in under-19 camps, a 70-year-old Raja Begum and Mohammad Iqbal were killed in subsequent firing by the army in which six others were injured.

Stating that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had assured action, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said: "Such tragic incidents have a huge negative impact on the efforts of the government and political leadership in bringing peace to state."

After the deaths the protests spread to other parts of the Kashmir Valley and reinforcements were sent to check any escalation. Separatists have called for a strike. Handwara has been under curfew since Tuesday.