Kashmir burns again: CRPF fires at mob; 2 killed

Security forces opened fire at a violent mob that attacked and torched a Central Reserve Police Force vehicle in north Kashmir's Sopore town on Friday, killing two persons and injuring three others.

The security forces were on their way back from Krankshivan locality in Sopore, where two Lashkar-e-Tayiba militants were killed after a fierce gunfight on Friday evening.

When the security forces were returning from the encounter site, the angry mob attacked and torched a vehicle of the CRPF.

CRPF troopers opened fire at the mob and injured five persons. The injured were immediately rushed to the hospital, where two of them succumbed to their injuries, said the police.

Those killed in the firing have been identified as Shakeel Ahmad and Firdaus Ahmad. The injured victims have been shifted to Srinagar for specialized treatment.

The CRPF troopers claimed that they had opened fire in self-defence.

"They attacked and torched a CRPF vehicle. Our personnel opened fire in self-defence," said CRPF spokesperson Prabhakar Tripathi.

According to latest reports, Sopore remained tense as thousands of people took to the streets and pelted stones at police personnel.

Senior police and security force officers have rushed to the town along with reinforcements to maintain law and order.