Jammu, Nov 5: Two youths on Friday were killed and two others wounded in a shootout in an area falling under Police Station Arnia here on Friday morning.
The police have constituted a Special Investigation Team to hold investigation in the case.
Police sources said that two police cops (one cop is under suspension and another cop posted in one of IR Battalions) were in Salair Kothe village (Arnia) in a vehicle when they were intercepted by a group of four men – including some drug peddler/criminal – armed with sharp edged weapons and hockey stick in a Scorpio.
“These four persons entered into arguments with the two cops and one of them hit the vehicle with a hockey stick,” the police sources quoting preliminary investigation said.
“Subsequently, the IR Battalion cop allegedly opened fire with his service rifle from inside the vehicle killing two persons on spot, and wounded two others,” the police source said.
The persons who died on spot have been identified as Arif Khan, son of Talab Hussain, resident of Chuhalla, RS Pura, and Muhammed Sabar, son of Mohammed Sayeed, resident of Chak Mohammad Yaar, RS Pura, according to police.
Amid firing, they said, Parveen Kumar (24), son of Raj Kumar, resident of Chak Mehmood Yaar, RS Pura fled from the spot. He has suffered injury in his leg.
Meanwhile, Babar – whose brother Muhammed Sabar lost his life in the shootout – sustained critical bullet injuries. The two policemen (identity withheld) also fled from the spot following the incident.
“Both cops abandoned their own vehicle and took away the vehicle of the slain youth while escaping from the spot,” said the police sources. Immediately, a large number of people rushed to the area and police contingents from different police stations also reached there.
The injured have been admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu. The condition of Babar is stated to be critical, according to the hospital insiders.
When contacted, SSP Jammu Chandan Kohli told Greater Kashmir that: “A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted headed by SP Headquarters to probe the case.” He said that the police have seized sharp edged weapons from the scene of crime as well as two vehicles (Thar and Scorpio).
To a question whether it was linked to money/drugs, the officer responded that the incident was linked to some money issue between them and it is being investigated.
A case in this regard has been registered and investigation is underway, he said.