The Indian Army has submitted its version of the January 27 incident, when its convoy was attacked in Shopian district, to the Jammu and Kashmir Police and explained its reasons for opening fire at the stone pelting mob, officials said on Wednesday.
According to the army's narrative, submitted on Tuesday, the force's convoy was attacked by a group of stone pelters and its personnel resorted to firing to save themselves, the officials said.
The army's version comes after the state police registered an FIR about the incident in Ganovpora area of Shopian in south Kashmir in which two youths were killed. One more person succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday, raising the toll to three.
The police have recorded the army's statement as part of the investigation. According to the SP Shopian, Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar, the Army's statement has been made part of the investigation, which is in accordance with the routine procedure. The officer told the Outlook there is only one FIR in the case.
The police ruled out the reports of counter-FIR filed by the army.
On January 27, two civilians were killed and nine others injured reportedly after the army opened fire on a stone-pelting mob in Ganowpora village.
Following the outrage over the killings, the state police had earlier registered a case under sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Ranbir Penal Code against the personnel of 10, Garhwal unit, of the Army.
Earlier on Wednesday, the death toll in the alleged Army firing increased to three after a critically injured man succumbed to his injuries.
Northern Army commander Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu said the army opened fire into a crowd in Shopian in the face of the "ultimate provocation" by a stone-pelting crowd.
Calling the FIR against the army as "unfortunate", Lt Gen Anbu called it said there should have been generic FIR in the matter.
"That is an unfortunate thing, in such a case a generic FIR should have been filed. I think they have prematurely put the name of an individual, I am sure when they investigate truth will come out. Notwithstanding what the state government did, we had our own inquiry and are clear that we responded when we were provoked to the ultimate," he added.
(With ANI inputs)
