Informer shoots Indian army officer, civilian in Indian-controlled Kashmir

An Indian army officer and a civilian were wounded after an army informer opened fire at the officer in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Sunday. The incident took place Saturday in village Parpora- Pattan of Baramulla district, around 30 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. Officials said the army informer snatched pistol from the officer during a verbal brawl between them and fired on him. A civilian was also wounded in the melee, police said. "The army officer of the rank of Major carrying a pistol had come in civvies to meet the two informers," said a police spokesman. "However, during the meeting the Major started yelling on the duo resulting into a scuffle between them." Police said a bullet fired by informer pierced through the officer's chest, while another hit the leg of a local, who was working in the nearby orchard. Reports said the army officer was immediately taken to army's base hospital in Srinagar. Both the officer and civilian were stated to be stable. Indian army officials are tight-lipped over the issue. However, of the two army informers, one has been arrested by police, while as search is on for the other. A guerrilla war is also going on between militants and the Indian troops stationed in the region since 1989. The gunfight between militants and Indian army troops in Indian-controlled Kashmir takes place intermittently. The army has roped in some civilians who work as their informers to keep track of militant activities. Army usually carry out operations on their inputs. On Saturday, an army officer was charred to death when a fire broke out in an army camp in Bandipora district. The officer was sleeping inside his room when the blaze engulfed it.