Srinagar: A young man was killed on the spot
and two others injured when CISF personnel opened fire on Monday
to disperse protesters agitated over power shortage in Boniyar
area of Baramulla district in the Kashmir Valley.
Five personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force
(CISF) allegedly involved in the firing incident outside the
NHPC-run Uri power project at Boniyar, 90 kms from here, have
been arrested while the state government lodged a protest with
the Union Home Ministry.
The victim was identified as Altaf Ahmad Sood (25), who
died on the spot, police said. 70-year-old Abdul Majid Khan
and 25-year-old Parvaiz Ahmad Khan sustained injuries, it
added.
Official sources said a group of around 500 persons
staged protests outside the power plant this morning against
recurring electricity shortage in the area.
As the protesters, demanding regular electricity supply,
marched towards the main gate of the power plant, CISF
personnel guarding the complex allegedly opened fire, the
sources said.
The sources said the firing incident led to tension in
the area as residents in the area gathered outside the plant
demanding arrest of the CISF personnel responsible for
the death of Sood.
"Five CISF personnel have been arrested following the
firing incident in Boniyar area," Deputy Inspector General of
Police, north Kashmir range, Muneer Khan told PTI.
An official spokesman said the Government, while
regretting the incident, has taken a serious view and lodged a
protest with the Union Home Ministry.
"The state government has taken up the matter with the
Union Home Ministry and lodged a protest and demanded stern
exemplary action against the delinquent officers," the
spokesman said.
The official spokesman said NHPC should have sought the
assistance of the local law and order machinery rather than
dealing with the protests on its own.
He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has deputed his
senior cabinet colleague and local MLA Taj Mohiuddin, Minister
of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani and DGP Kuldeep Khoda to
the spot.
The spokesman said the CISF whose troops opened the
fire were not a part of the Counter Insurgency grid operating
in J&K.
"They have been hired by the NHPC exclusively for the
security of their installations across the state and are not
under the operational command of either the Unified
Headquarters or the state government," he added.
PTI
First Published: Monday, January 02, 2012, 17:54