While the J-K Police on Sunday registered a case of murder against the Army for the death of two devotees at Bomai village in north Kashmir’s Sopore town, the latter has ordered a “high-level court of inquiry” into the incident.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already ordered a time-bound magisterial inquiry into the incident.

On Saturday evening, soldiers of 22 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) allegedly opened unprovoked fire near the Bomai bus stand, killing two civilians returning from a Sufi shrine. A third person sustained serious injuries and is undergoing treatment at SKIMS Hospital, Srinagar. The Army, however, said the two were killed in a cross-fire.

“We have registered a murder case (73/2009) under under Section 302 (murder) against the 22 Rashtriya Rifles stationed at Bomai for killing the civilians.” Station House Office (SHO), Sopore, Farooq Ahmad said.

“The Army inquiry will be conducted by a Brigadier,” Defence spokesperson Col Uma Maheshwar said.

Though a curfew was imposed in Sopore town on Sunday, pro-freedom protests erupted in Sopore. In Baramulla town, protestors, demanding action against the Army, clashed with the police. The entire Bomai village took to the streets with the body of slain devotee Md Amin Tantry.