Withdraw FIR against Army or your govt will be toppled, Swamy tells Mehbooba

Why are we even running the government in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has asked. He was reacting to the filing of the FIR against Army personnel following the stone pelting incident at Shopian on Saturday.

Two civilians were killed when Army personnel fired at a stone-pelting mob in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, prompting Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to order an inquiry into the incident.

On Sunday, the police registered an FIR under sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Ranbir Penal Code against the personnel of 10, Garhwal unit, of the Army. A Major, who led the Army personnel at the time of the incident, was also mentioned in the FIR.

Swamy said, " what nonsense is this? Dismiss that government immediately. Tell Mehbooba to withdraw the FIR or else her government would be toppled. Why are we even running that government, I have not understood till date."

The police chief of Jammu and Kashmir S P Vaid said that the registration of the FIR is just the start of the probe and the version of the Indian Army would be taken into account.

At a press conference at the police headquarters on Monday, the DGP said it was a matter of investigation as to what circumstances led to the incident.

Asked whether the Army's version will be a part of the probe, the state police chief said, "The Army's version, eyewitness accounts and the statement of those who lost their near and dear ones would be included."

"We will go through all facts and the ground evidences of the case and the Army will also be questioned," Vaid said.

According to the police, on Saturday, the crowd hurled stones on a security force convoy passing through Ganovpora village in Shopian district following which the Army men fired a few rounds.

A defence spokesperson, however, had said the troops opened fire when a mob tried to lynch a junior commissioned officer and snatch his service weapon.

OneIndia News