Srinagar, Dec 5: A family in Hajin area of Bandipora district claimed one of their woman members died after the government forces fired tear smoke shells in the locality Wednesday evening. The police however contested the claim and said there was no law and order situation in the area.
The family members of Hajira Begum (60), wife of Nazir Ahmad Dar, claimed that she died due to suffocation caused by teargas shells fired by the government forces to disperse youth who were pelting stones at them as they were withdrawing after a search operation.
The search operation was jointly launched by the Army’s 13RR, SOG of police and CRPF in the area following inputs about the presence of militants.
Hajira was collecting charcoal in the front yard of her house in Danger Mohalla area when the forces fired tear smoke shells near Higher Secondary School in Mir Mohalla, said her relatives.
“There was a lot of smoke in the area and around our house because of which Hajira collapsed as she happened to be asthmatic,” said a relative, adding that she was declared dead at the hospital.
Police, however, claimed that there was no law and order situation in the area and no tear smoke shells were fired.
“When there was no law and order situation how is it possible that tear smoke shells would have been fired in the area. Nobody has died due to tear smoke in the area,” said a senior police official of the district.
Meanwhile, BMO Hajin was quoted as saying by a news agency that the woman was brought dead to the hospital. “She had died due to cardio pulmonary arrest. She was a chronic patient of Asthma,” he confirmed.
