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Apologising for the incident, the Indian Army also announced an Rs 10 lakh compensation to the family of those who were killed.
The Indian Army on Friday took responsibility for the killing of two youths in Kashmir’s Chattergam firing incident.
The army admitted that it was a mistake and announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 10 lakh to the deceased and Rs 5 lakh to the injured.
On Monday, Kashmir was on edge after two youth were killed and two others were injured when the army opened fire on a passing car in the Chattergam area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
The army said the car had failed to stop at a check point in the Chattergam area on the outskirts of the summer capital Srinagar.
Addressing a media conference, Lieutenant General DS Hooda, Army Commander, Northern Command said, “A mistake has happened otherwise why would two civilian boys have been killed like this and we take responsibility for it.”
“We express deepest regrets over the loss of lives and share the sorrow and grief of the families.”
He said that army had an input about movement of terrorists in a car. “But it was a case of mistaken identity and we wish the incident had not happened,” Lt General Hooda said.
He said that the company has been shifted from the area and a new one has moved in there.
Lt Gen DS Hooda also admitted that ‘incidents like these take us backwards’ and assured a fair and transparent probe into the incident. “An enquiry has been ordered and we hope it would be completed in the next 10 days.”
The army commander also announced Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia payment to the family of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh to the injured.
Image: Army Commander, Northern Command Lt Gen DS Hooda, (right) addressing the media. Photograph: Umar Ganie/Rediff