SRINAGAR, Sept 10: A military enquiry into a boat tragedy that killed 20 school children and two teachers in occupied Kashmir earlier this year found four sailors responsible and recommended criminal charges be filed against them, an official statement said on Sunday.

The 22 died when an Indian navy boat overturned during a joyride on Wular Lake in northern Bandipora on May 3 after school officials allowed the children to board the craft.

“The enquiry officer has blamed four navy officials, including two boat operators for negligence resulting in the deaths of 22 people,” a military spokesman said.

He said criminal charges would be filed against the sailors and the school principal who had granted permission for the children to take the joyride.

The tragedy sparked massive protests in occupied Kashmir that left two people dead and injured dozens of others.

Occupied Kashmir has a small Indian naval presence, mainly small craft that patrol lake islands once used as militant hide-outs.—AFP