Srinagar: While taking responsibility for the killing of two Kashmiri teenagers in Chattergam area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, the Army Friday said that it will provide ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for families of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh for those injured.Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Lieutenant General D S Hooda of the Northern Army command said that the killing of two teenagers was a case of ‘mistaken identity’. However, he added that the inquiry will be completed within ten days and stringent punishment will be awarded to the soldiers who violated the rules.There was some information abouta white car with militants. Obviously, the identity was mistaken in this case. We take responsibility for the death, Lt General D S Hooda said adding thatthe Army promises a transparent and time bound inquiry.Pertinently, two students Faisal Yusuf Bhat and Mehrajuddin Dar, were killed while two others - Shaker Bhat and Zahid Naqash were injured on Monday evening when soldiers of 53 Rashtriya Riflesopened fire on the Maruti car they were travelling in at Chattergam village in Badgam district. The injured are being treated at Army hospital Badami Bagh. Soon after the incident, the Army had claimed that the driver of the car did not stopat a mobile vehicle check post after he was directed to do so. Even an Army official had informed some reporters that it was a militant attack and Army was able to neutralize two militants. As the facts surfaces, Army expressed regret and ordered an inquiry into the killing of these two civilians.Lieutenant General D.S.Hooda further said that guilty soldiers will be punished so that it will become aprecedence and in future such incidents don’t occur. “The probe that we have ordered is going on fast track basis. Let me tell you that the probe is going on in transparent manner and we are trying to ascertain what prompted the soldiers to fire upon the Maruti car,” he said.Responding to a question, Hooda said that Army is ready to cooperatewith police or government if they want to initiate a separate inquiry into the incident. “We are ready to cooperate with anyone, be it police or civil administration, public or any civil society group,
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 17:55:01 +0000
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