DK Pura firing incident: Serving Iftaar was a coordinated effort with locals: Army

Srinagar, May 22: Army on Tuesday said that the Iftaar it organised in DK Pora area of Shopian, which ended with clashes and injuries to six people, was a coordinated effort with the local Masjid Committee, Sarpanch and other residents of the village.

“Following the tradition and as part of goodwill gesture towards the Awaam during the holy month of Ramzan,  the local Army Camp at Imam Sahib planned an Iftaar at DK Pura village on 21 May 18. Necessary coordination was done with the village Maulvi, Masjid  Committee Members, Sarpanch and other eminent persons of the village.  Some of them had also later visited the Army Camp in the afternoon to finalise arrangements,” a spokesperson of Army said.

He added that at around 7:30 pm as the Iftaar was under progress, some miscreants from the village barged into the masjid and started shouting anti national and pro-Pakistan slogans including on the loudspeaker.

“Very soon a large crowd instigated by the miscreants primarily consisting of youth and a few women gathered outside the masjid and surrounded the Army troops present there for organising the Iftaar. The crowd resorted to heavy stone pelting posing serious threat to the safety of the troops.  The troops verbally cautioned the crowd, but when the stone-pelting further intensified, they took necessary preventive measures and moved out of the area,” he said.