Jammu: Two civilians were shot dead outside an army camp along the Poonch-Rajouri highway early on Friday morning and the killings evoked massive protests in the area.
While Army blamed suspected militants for firing and killing the two civilians, J&K Police said that they are probing the incident.
However, locals said that two persons with bullet marks were found dead outside the Alpha Gate of the army camp along the Poonch-Rajouri highway at around 6 AM.
Locals identified the slain as Kamal Kumar and Surinder Kumar, both natives of the Rajouri district.
"I was traveling in my vehicle and heard several shots of bullets at the Alpha gate of the army camp. I left behind my vehicle and ran for cover. Later, I came to know that two locals have been killed," a truck driver said.
A police official said that they are ascertaining the facts. " Senior officials have rushed to the spot to find out what happened and how the two locals were killed," he said.
Army in a Tweet, however, said there was a firing incident by unidentified militants near the military hospital, which led to the fatal casualty of two individuals.
“In the early morning, unidentified militants fired near Rajouri near Military Hospital, there has been a fatal casualty of two individuals. The Police, security forces, and civil administration officials are on the site,” the army in a Tweet said.
Meanwhile, massive protests rocked the area with locals demanding a probe into the incident.
The protesters have blocked the highway and traffic has been halted on the highway," eyewitnesses said, adding that empty cartridges have been found outside the Army’s Alpha Gate.
(KNO)
