Former chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Friday demanded a high level Special Investigation team (SIT) to probe death of three youths in a clash with Army personnel in Shopian district of South Kashmir on 27 January.

Omar while speaking in the Legislative Assembly said that now that two FIRs, one by the police and the counter FIR by the Army have been filed into the incident, there was need to file a SIT to probe the matter.

The Army had opened fire in self-defence when a violent stone pelting mob allegedly tried to lynch a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) who had fallen unconscious after a stone hit on his head and seven jawans were injured. Eight civilians were injured when the Army personnel opened fire to prevent the mob from burning the vehicles of the convoy that was passing through the area.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incident, while the police registered a FIR against a major of the 10 Garhwal Rifles. Thereafter, the Army filed a counter FIR wherein it stated that the firing was done in self-defence.

Omar said that a high level SIT should be constituted to clear the air as the matter has got complicated with different versions coming about the incident.

Omar criticized the Mehbooba led PDP-BJP government for denying compensation to Farooq Dar who was tied to the bonnet of a jeep by an Army officer last year during the by-election for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. The Army officer was awarded in that case and how do you expect us to trust that you (Mehbooba) are assuring a logical conclusion in the Shopian incident.

BJP legislators demanded withdrawal of the FIR against the Army personnel and a case should be registered against the stone pelters who damaged vehicles of the Army.

Reacting to Omar’s demand, Jammu and Kashmir’s Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said, “This was unfortunate stand by a former chief minister. Army that is making sacrifices for country has every right to approach law. They are demanding that they (army) should be hanged for filing a counter FIR but do not utter a word against stone-pelters”.