Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference and the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) have called for a one-day bandh in Kashmir to protest the killing of two youths, who allegedly died due to firing by the security forces in Bandipora.
The Army, meanwhile, has ordered an inquiry into the deaths. The police has also registered a murder case.
Major Gen RR Nimborker, GOC Victor Forces, said, "We deeply mourn their demise. You and I want to convey our deep condolences to the bereaved families. We are investigating into the details of the incident. I can assure that if any wrong doing emerges, appropriate will be taken."
North Kashmir witnessed massive protests over the killings on Sunday. 18-year-old Irfan Nabi was shot at in the night during a search operation, while the 27-year-old Irshad Ahmad Dar was killed in the morning when people were protesting against the first killing.
Ifran's cousin said the Army started firing when they came out of their office. "Two vehicles came here around 2:30 am. We came out of our home and once we crossed the compound, troops started firing indiscriminately and Irfan was killed," he said.
After the recent killing of eight soldiers during a terrorist ambush ahead of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit in Srinagar, the security forces have been under immense pressure to nab the culprits. Police sources said the Army was misled and when the soldiers challenged the intruder, he ran forcing the troops to open fire.
Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone said, "The Army should not be given full authority to do whatever they want in any manner they like."
The killing of the youths in Sumbal has once again brought the issue of AFSPA into sharp focus and in the coming days, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is likely to raise the pitch for the rollback of the contentious Army act.
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