Srinagar: A day after a 21-year-old youth was killed in Indian paramilitary CISF soldiers firing at Boninyar in North Kashmir, Chief Minister of the region Omar Abdullah Tuesday termed the incident as an inexcusable and excessive use of force.
21-year-old Altaf Ahmad Sood was killed when paramilitary CISF soldiers fired on a group of people at Boniyar, some 70 kms north of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir yesterday afternoon. People were protesting against the power cuts and were demanding electricity. Two other persons including a 70-yr-old man was injured in the firing incident and are undergoing treatment.
The incident has evoked strong condemnation from all quarters of the society. All the pro-Indian and separatist groups and leaders have condemned the killing and demanded exemplary action against the paramilitary soldiers involved in killing of a youth.
The chief minister of the region Omar Abdullah visited the residence of deceased Altaf at Baitnar, Uri, some 90 km from Srinagar, this morning and expressed grief with the bereaved family.
Later, in a tweet on micro blogging site twitter, Omar said, “This will have to be treated not as a case of self-defence but excessive use of force”.
Terming the circumstances of the death of youth as tragic, shocking and inexcusable, he sought exemplary action against the guilty soldiers so that nobody else acted in a similar manner.
Sensing more trouble, authorities have arrested five paramilitary CISF personnel and registered an FIR under Section 302 (murder charges) against the soldiers.
The government has offered compensation and a government job on compassionate grounds to one eligible member of the victim’s family.
The government has also lodged a protest with Indian Home Ministry over the incident and demanded exemplary punishment to the personnel responsible for the death.
Meanwhile, the area where the killing took place and its adjoining areas observed complete shutdown against the killing. Anger was prevalent in the area with people demanding stern action against the guilty soldiers.
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