SRINAGAR: At least 19 persons including two BSF jawans were killed and 21 others including six BSF personnel injured in clashes between the militants and the security forces during a total Kashmir bandh called by militants on India’s Independence Day which was observed in the Valley as black day August 15.
Most of the casualties were reported from Sopore 45 km from here According to official Sources the para-military forces fired upon a group of militants who were burning the Indian flag in Sopore town. In a counter offensive the militants killed two jawans and injured six others and also damaged two of their vehicles. The para-military forces retaliated by using two-inch mortar guns the sources said. At least 15 persons were killed and 15 injured. Most of those killed were reportedly unarmed persons travelling in a boat on the Jhelum river.
However the director-general of police J.N.Saksena disclaiming this said that all the 15 persons killed were militants. He claimed that the security forces had recovered a rocket launcher and five AK-47 rifles He said only one jawan of the security forces was killed while eight others were injured two of them seriously.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 23, 1991
