Protest against the Iftaar Party of Rashtriya Rifles in Kashmir

Srinagar: Four teenage girls were injured when troops allegedly opened fire to disperse demonstrators who were pelting stones to disrupt the "Iftaar Party" organised by the Army in south Kashmir district of Shopian, official sources said.Police said some miscreants pelted stones on Army patrol and also disrupted ''Iftaar'' party.

The trouble started when Rashtriya Rifles (RR) put up a stall outside a mosque at village Dardi Kali Pora in Shopian for ''Iftaar'' party last evening. Local immediately after breaking the fast in the mosque objected to the Army and raised slogans. Later announcements were made from the mosque through public address system urging people to join the protests against the ''Iftaar'' party by RR.

The demonstrators later disrupted the party and pelted stones. The troops opened fire and also fired pellets in which four teenage girls were injured. The injured were rushed to hospital from where one of them has been referred to Srinagar. The condition of all the four girls was stated to be stable.

Police said an Army patrol of 34 RR had gone to the Jamia masjid of D K Pora village, for participating in ''Iftaar'' with the locals of the area on Monday. However, during the Iftaar, a mob of miscreants attacked the Army patrol with stones and other items.

The Army party withdrew from the scene by firing aerial warning shots. Subsequently, four injuries were reported to different hospitals, probably firearm injuries. All the injured are reportedly stable. The police have taken cognisance of the episode and started legal proceedings. (UNI)