Days ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to J-K, killing of a student by the Army at Watergam in north Kashmir’s Rafiabad has triggering massive protests in Rafiabad and nearby Handwara. The state Government has ordered an inquiry into the killing.

Army said the student —Sajad Ahmad Lone, 26, of Ganapore village — was killed when he intruded inside the gated and concertina-wire fenced 32 Rashtriya Rifles camp at Watergam and attacked a soldier with an axe.

“The individual was observed moving suspiciously near the camp. On being challenged by a sentry, he charged at him with an axe and hit him on his head and right shoulder, injuring him seriously. He then jumped the camp gate and tried

to charge at other sentries,” Defence spokesman, Lt Col J S Brar said. “And in retaliatory gunfire, he was shot dead.” The Army has filed an FIR against the deceased for attempt to murder.

Locals, however, accuse the Army of killing an innocent person. “He left home on Saturday morning,” Lone’s father Ghulam Mohidin said. “Around 2 pm, we got a call from Dangiwacha Police Station, saying Sajad was there. When we reached there, we saw his body.” He alleged his son was killed “because he was sporting a beard and wearing headgear”.

As news of the killing spread, people came on the roads to protest in Rafiabad, Handwara and other parts of north Kashmir.

The protestors were joined by MLA from Lanagte, Engineer Sheikh Rashid. They also staged a sit-in on the Baramulla-Kupwara national highway and refused to bury Lone until an inquiry was ordered into the killing and action against the soldiers.

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