Army clarifies it never entered Kashmir mosque

Srinagar, June 13 (UNI) The Army today sought to give a ''clear picture'' of the incident of alleged desecration of a mosque at Zirhama in north Kashmir's Kupwara district and the subsequent protests in which two people were killed and several others wounded.

In a statement here, a military spokesman clarified the Army never entered the mosque in Zirhama.

''A few national and local leaders have cast aspersion on the secular nature of the Army. The Army's secular credentials are evident from the fact during the Kargil conflict, we buried the Pakistani soldiers giving them the honour as per their religious traditions,'' he said.

''Our Army is known all over the world for its secular nature. We have a Dharam Sthal where all religions are preached. It is thus preposterous to even think that the Army has deliberately entered the mosque. It seems that some leaders have got carried away by rumours and are just adding fuel to the fire,'' the spokesman added.

He said there were rumours floated by some anti-national and anti-social elements and spread by those who have lost the capability to do anything except targeting tourists, labourers and civilians by throwing grenades.

''It is basically the wild imagination of a sick mind that spread a story poisoning the local youth. The Army in fact has shown great restraint as is evident that eight soldiers, five policemen and seven civilians were wounded in stone-pelting,'' the spokesman added.

He said an allegation has been made by some leaders that the Army fired on the demonstrators. ''It is reiterated that when the mob of about 7000 to 8000 was nearing the Army post, the commander fired in the air to disperse them,'' the spokesman said.

This was because the commander saw the young students and did not want to cause injury to them. The crowd dispersed and assembled 1.5 km away where the police had fired to control the mob, he said.

The spokesman said it was not known as to whether the civilian died in the police firing or from within the mob.

UNI AG CH GC1920