Sopore firing: Omar Abdullh holds high-level meeting

SOPORE - Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday held a high-level meeting to discuss the situation following the alleged death of two persons in a police firing here.

The meeting discussed the situation arising from the firing on protesters in Sopore.n indefinite curfew was imposed in Sopore since Friday evening after two civilians were killed and three injured in firing by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).n Saturday, defying curfew, scores of people took to streets and staged demonstrations against the killing of two youths.

Indefinite curfew was clamped after angry mob took to streets, set ablaze a security vehicle, damaged a bunker and attacked a police station, demanding action against the CRPF personnel.

Today, the protesters also stopped the Baramulla Quazigund rail at Sopore.

Incidents of people defying curfew and staging demonstrations were reported from Hathishah Mohalla, Jamia Kadeem and Krankshivan and other parts of the district.

However, there was no report of any casualty today.

Trouble started last evening when people took to streets soon after an encounter at Bagh-i-Islam Krankshivan, 55 kms from here, in which security forces claimed that two militants identified as Abdul Qayoom Najjar and Javid Ahmad were killed.

Najjar, a local, was allegedly involved in a series of killings including that of National Conference worker Ghulam Nabi Khan.

The locals claimed that Javid was a civilian and his body be handed over to them.

As protestors pelted stones on CRPF personnel who were retreating after the encounter, the paramilitary forces opened fire injuring eight persons, two of whom succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

CRPF Inspector Rotash Singh was injured in the incident during attacks by the mob, and his condition is said to be critical.

As the situation went out of control, authorities clamped indefinite curfew in the town around 10 pm last night.

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti, said the Sopore killings have discredited the government.

CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Tripathy said personnel opened fire in self-defence when the mob set on fire a car of the force. (ANI)