SRINAGAR: One person was injured in firing during massive protests in Kangan area of Ganderbal district on Thursday following allegations of attempted molestation of a girl by an army jawan, the second such incident in a fortnight in the same area.
The residents of Kangan, where the incident occurred, and adjoining areas took to streets accusing the jawan of an army road opening party trying to molest the girl, official sources said.
The protestors blocked Srinagar-Leh Highway after the incident.
It was immediately not clear whether the army fired on the protestors or the militants fired on the security forces.
Deputy Inspector General of police Farooq Ahmad told PTI that there were conflicting reports emanating from the area and Superintendent of Police, Ganderbal district, has rushed to the spot to verify the facts.
While one report said that army jawans opened fire on the protestors, another claimed that the army was fired upon by militants, he said.
An army spokesman based at headquarters of 15 corp here said a report has been sought from the concerned commanding officer about the incident.
This is the third case of alleged molestation of women by security forces in Kashmir valley and second in Kangan area in the past fortnight.
While two army jawans were caught by locals at Bandipora trying to rape a girl, a CRPF jawan was arrested as he allegedly tried to rape a dumb girl in Kangan last month.
