J&K: 2 Civilians Sustain Bullet Injuries Amid Altercation With Army Outside Mosque In Handwara

The civilians sustained bullet injuries in the leg after a soldier opened fire following an altercation with worsippers who had gathered at the mosque for afternoon prayers.

(Representative Image/Getty)

Srinagar: At least two civilians were injured in an alleged firing by the Indian Army personnel during an altercation outside a mosque in the Handwara area of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.

According to reports, the civilians sustained bullet injuries in the leg after a soldier opened fire following an altercation with worshippers who had gathered at the mosque for afternoon prayers, officials told ABP news. 

The army man was making a video of afternoon prayers at the mosque and this is when the altercation began.

Speaking about the incident, eyewitnesses said that when the people were entering the Masjid at Jamia Jadeed Main Chowk Handwara, army soldiers were making their video. 

There was a firing and two civilians were injured and sustained bullet wounds in the leg, they said. 

Those injured in the firing were identified as Abdul Ahad Mir and Mujeeb Ahmad Sofi, the officials informed, adding that they were rushed to the SKIMS hospital at Soura.

A top police official informed that both Mir and Sofi are stable.

The officer also informed that the soldiers of 21 Rajasthan Rifles (RR) regiment had gone to Jamia Masjid Handwara for video making of Namaz (prayers). 

"Some people objected and then there was an altercation between army and civilians,” the officer said adding that during the altercation there has been accidental fire and two persons received injuries in leg.

Reacting to the incident, People's Conference Chairman Sajad Lone said the incident was a result of the "sorry state of affairs" prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir.

"What a sorry state of affairs. One of the most peaceful towns Handwara at the receiving end. Hoping against hope the guilty are punished," Lone said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, former J&K Chief Minister and People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti condemned an incident of firing allegedly by Army personnel in the Handwara.

"Condemn today’s incident at Handwara which left 2 civilians injured post an altercation with the army. GOIs interference in religious matters by its unwarranted surveillance of a simple act of offering prayers shows that Kashmiris pay dearly for the illusion of Naya Kashmir," she tweeted.

(With inputs from Asif Qureshi)