Late last night near the tennis courts in Zvečan, a police officer discharged a firearm during what was described as a routine inspection of a taxi. The driver, Uroš Dimitrijević, was reportedly left shaken, alleging that police harassment of taxi drivers in the area is a recurring issue.
Aleksandar Arsenijević, leader of the Serbian Democracy Party, has accused the police of attempting to cover up the incident and neglecting proper procedures.
Authorities, however, stated that the firearm discharge was accidental.
Driver’s Account: Tension and Fear
Dimitrijević recounted the events, stating he was stopped by a police patrol while driving a passenger towards Mali Zvečan. The patrol, consisting of one female and two male officers, requested his documents and instructed him to open the trunk for inspection.
“As I opened the trunk, one officer began rummaging through it. He found nothing, turned to check my documents, and then his firearm went off. He was standing half a meter away from me,” Dimitrijević told our reporters.
The officer reportedly checked himself to ensure he wasn’t injured, returned the documents, and told Dimitrijević to leave.
“I don’t know if it was an attempt to cover it up or what,” Dimitrijević added.
Despite the alarming situation, Dimitrijević proceeded to drop off his passenger before returning to the scene, accompanied by Aleksandar Arsenijević, leader of Srpska Demokratija.
Dimitrijević, skeptical of filing a report with the police, expressed mistrust.
“What can I expect from them? If I only reported it to them, they’d sweep it under the rug.”
Dimitrijević plans to report the incident to the Kosovo Police Inspectorate. He gave a statement at the North Mitrovica police station last night.
“I’m a father of two young children. What if I’d been hit? This can’t go on. It’s a disgrace,” he said.
Allegations of Routine Harassment
Dimitrijević claims this was not an isolated incident, stating that taxi drivers face daily stops and searches by the Kosovo Police.
“They stop us constantly, even with passengers in the car, searching for something,” he said.
Witness Account: Mistaking Gunfire for Firecrackers
Nearby resident Ana Srbljak also heard the incident but initially mistook the sound for a firecracker.
“I heard a bang but didn’t think it was a gunshot. Later, I saw a commotion outside my window and learned what had happened,” she said.
While Srbljak has not experienced direct confrontations with the police, she noted that their constant presence in the neighborhood is unsettling.
Serbian Democracy Leader: Claims of a Cover-Up
Aleksandar Arsenijević, who was called to the scene by Dimitrijević, accused the police of attempting to cover up the incident.
“If they weren’t trying to cover it up, they’d ask if he was okay and investigate properly. Instead, they told him to leave immediately,” Arsenijević said.
He criticized the officers for failing to follow proper procedures, such as securing the scene.
Arsenijević also stressed that the officers involved in the incident should have been disarmed.
Police Statement: Unintentional Discharge
Veton Elshani, Deputy Commander of the Kosovo Police for the North Region, confirmed the shooting, describing it as an accidental discharge.
“The officer fired the shot unintentionally. The police will now conduct an investigation and inform the Police Inspectorate,” Elshani stated.
Following the incident, police conducted an on-site investigation.
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