Omar Abdullah visits family of boy killed in CISF firing

The J&K chief minister called the firing unpardonable and promised action against those guilty. Mukhtar Ahmad reports.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday visited north Kashmir's Boniyar town where an 18-year-old student was killed in paramilitary, Central Industrial Security Force firing on Monday.

The CISF troopers had opened fire on Monday afternoon as protestors blocked the road outside an NHPC owned power station in Boniyar town, near Srinagar.

The villagers were protesting acute power shortage in the area.

The chief minister flew to Boniyar on Tuesday morning to sympathise with the bereaved family of Altaf Ahmad Sood, who was killed in the firing.

Two other villagers, who were injured in the firing, are undergoing treatment in hospital.

Talking to media persons the chief minister said, "The CISF firing was unpardonable as the youth had been shot twice in the chest." He assured the family that he would 'leave no stone unturned in bringing those responsible for the youth's killing to justice'.

Police have already arrested five personnel of the CISF including a sub-inspector and a case of murder has been registered in the Boniyar police station.

The state government has said that those responsible for the firing are not protected by the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) as they are not part of the counter insurgency grid in the state.

The state government has also ordered a magisterial probe to be carried out by additional deputy commissioner of Baramulla.

The probe will be completed within 15 days, according to officials.

The town observed a shutdown on Tuesday. Fresh protests erupted as the chief minister left the town.