Jammu, April 13: Two people died when the Army opened fire at protesters in Jammu and Kashmir’s Handwara region on Tuesday.
Protests erupted in Handwara town of Kupwara district following allegations that a girl student, on her way home, was molested by soldiers posted in an Army picket in the town, official sources said.
They said the protesters pelted stones at the Army picket after which the soldiers opened fire.
The two youngsters killed in the firing were identified as Iqbal Ahmad and Nayeem Bhat, the sources said.
An Army statement said, ” Army deeply regrets the unfortunate loss of life. Matter will be investigated and anybody found guilty will be dealt with as per the law.”
Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik and Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have called for a shutdown in the state against against the killings.
