Handwara firing : J & K CM Mehbooba Mufti meets Defence Minister

Reports said Parrikar assured Mufti that a probe will be initiated and the culprits will be booked. 

Mehbooba, who is on her maiden visit to the national capital after assuming the post of Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, met Parrikar and Union urban development minister Venakiah Naidu.

 “I spoke to the defence minister. He assured me that a probe will be initiated and the culprits will be punished," Mufti said. She described the incident as "very unfortunate."

“At the same time, the family will be compensated. Such incidents should not happen in the future,” she said.

Two youth, including a budding cricketer, were  killed in Handwara when army personnel opened fire to disperse a stone-pelting mob, protesting against the alleged molestation of a girl. .

The incident took place after allegations were made that some army personnel had allegedly molested the school girl.

The army, however, released a video in which the girl was seen speaking up without any mention about any army man.

An army spokesman said the allegation was made with an intention to malign the force.

The incident triggered more protests in Handwara and was echoed in Srinagar and Pulwama districts of Kashmir prompting the authorities to clamp curfew in some areas. 

Mehbooba Mufti had on Tuesday said the security personnel involved in the killings will be handed exemplary punishment and such incidents “cannot” be tolerated.

She said such tragic incidents have a “negative impact” on the efforts of the government and the political leadership aimed at consolidating the peace efforts.