Srinagar, May 15 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, four innocent civilians who were fired at and ruthlessly beaten by Indian troops at Dangiwacha in Baramulla on Tuesday, narrating their ordeal, have demanded severe punishment to the perpetrators.

One of the injured, Ghulam Muhammad said, “When we reached Dangiwacha at about 10:15 PM, the troops without any provocation snatched our identify cards and mobiles. We were forced to sit in a row, and after few minutes the they started to cock guns and then they fired at us,” adding, “There were cries and blood all around. The soldiers kicked us and hit us with rifle butts.”

Another victim, Sheikh, who received bullet injuries on his right leg, said, “I can’t understand why the troops fired at us. We pleaded them, but they didn’t listen to us and abused us,” adding, “They are not soldiers but looters and killers.”

Firdous Ahmad Baba, another victim considered himself lucky as he survived a bullet injury on his head. “The troopers must be punished as they attempted to kill us. This is sheer terrorism,” Firdous shouted, as doctors tried to calm him.

The condition of one of the injured, Muhammad Ashraf, was critical. He has been kept under observation in the ICU of a hospital in Srinagar. “His intestines have been badly damaged by the bullets,” the doctors said. 

The attendants pointed out that the troops tried to stop the ambulance carrying the wounded men. “They warned us of dire consequences if we disclosed the involvement of the troops in the incident. But somehow we managed to reach Srinagar,” said Nazir Ahmad of Dangiwacha who accompanied the injured to the hospital.