Two killed in Sopore shootout

22 December 2006
The Hindu
Shujaat Bukhari

Srinagar: Two civilians were killed and seven others including four army personnel injured in a shootout in Sopore, north Kashmir, on Friday afternoon. People protested the killing and the situation was stated to be tense. The police used teargas shells to disperse the crowd. Reports from Sopore said that at around 2.45 PM, soon after the prayers, indiscriminate firing took place in the main chowk when an Army convoy was passing through. While two vendors died on the spot, three others were taken to a hospital. The firing led to panic in the town , which wore a deserted look within minutes. No militant organisation has owned responsibility. Additional Superintendent of Police Imtiaz Ahmad told The Hindu that the convoy was attacked by unknown militants and the civilians got caught in the crossfire. He also confirmed that four army personnel were injured in the incident. Army's spokesman Col. Hemant Juneja said the injured personnel were stable.