The district administration along with the village heads agreed to file an FIR against the Army. (Picture for representation)

Protests against the killing of a local youth in an alleged fake encounter took a violent turn as protesters torched an official vehicle of the district administration of Kupwara in Kashmir.

Shahid Bashir Mir of Daril Tarathpora who according to his family had gone missing was killed in an alleged fake encounter in Hafrada forests.

His killing sparked violence in Handwara and surrounding areas, while people staged a massive protest demanding a registration of FIR against the army troops involved in the incident.

Protesters according to eyewitnesses torched an official vehicle besides damaging two other vehicles of deputy commissioner Kupwara's escort.

Reports said that police fired tear-smoke shells to disperse the agitated crowd. Reports also said that a number of protesters suffered injuries during clashes with security forces.

During the clashes three persons suffered pellet injuries including a girl, locals said.

To pacify the protesters, government issued a No Objection Certificate in favour of the slain youth. "It is certified that Shahid Bashir Mir of Daril Payeen was not involved in any kind of subversive/criminal activities as per the available records of this Police Station," the NOC issued by SHO Police Station Vilgam and signed by District Magistrate Kupwara reads.

Soon after the district administration assured the protesting civilians that an FIR under section 302 CrPc would be filed against army, locals offered the funeral prayers of the slain youth.

Meanwhile, the district administration after an hour long meeting with the village heads agreed to file an FIR against the army under section 302 CrPc.

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