Srinagar: A magisterial probe ordered into
the killing of a 13-year-old boy in the city that triggered
protests earlier this year has found prima facie involvement
of a Jammu and Kashmir police official in the incident.
Judicial Magistrate Massarat Shaheen in the report
submitted to Srinagar Chief Judicial Magistrate has maintained
that prima facie the accused Abdul Khaliq (Assistant
Sub-Inspector of Police) has committed the offence which is
punishable under the Ranbir Penal Code.
13-year-old Wamiq Farooq was killed when police fired
tear smoke shells on January 31 this year at Gani memorial
Stadium in Gojwar area of the city.
The report, submitted to CJM last week and based on
statements of three witnesses, said, "As per the statements of
the witnesses, it has been observed that the situation in the
area on the day of incident was normal and everybody was
involved in daily activities as the shop near the place of
occurrence was also open.
"One of the police personnel, without any provocation,
fired a tear smoke shell at the range of 30 feet on Wamiq
Farooq, who was walking on the link road after playing carom
with other boys,” the enquiry Magistrate said.
Initially, the ASI was suspended by the state
government and an inquiry ordered into the incident. However,
the government took a U-turn when CJM Srinagar sought a report
from police about the incident after the boy's father filed an
application seeking registration of murder case against the
official.
The police in its report claimed that Wamiq Farooq was
part of a mob which made attempt on the lives of the police
personnel on the day of the incident.
As there was a public outcry over the police report,
Law Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said the attempt to murder
charge filed against Wamiq was an error and will be withdrawn.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 13:39