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Protester killed in CISF firing in Valley
Ehsan Fazili/TNS
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 2
A student was killed and two others injured when jawans of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) opened fire to disperse a mob protesting against power shortage outside the NHPC-run Uri power project at Boniyar in Baramulla district today.

In a prompt action, five CISF jawans were arrested and an FIR was lodged in the incident. The state government has taken up the matter with the Union Home Ministry and lodged a protest. It has demanded stern action against delinquent CISF personnel.

Eyewitnesses said over 500 people were protesting against power shortage in the area this afternoon. “The protesters were agitating against power shortage in the area, which is close to the Uri power project,” an eyewitness said. He said sensing trouble the CISF jawans came out of the main entrance to the NHPC power project and opened fire at the protesters without any provocation. While Altaf Ahmad Sood was killed, Abdul Majid Khan and Parvez Ahmad Khan were injured.

“The people were holding a demonstration against power shortage and the firing was unprovoked,” another eyewitness said. Soon after the incident, Minister for Public Health and Engineering came out of the main entrance to NHPC power project and opened fire at protesters without any provocation. While Altaf Ahmad Sood was killed, Abdul Majid Khan and Parvez Ahmad Khan were injured.

“The people were holding a demonstration against power shortage and the firing was unprovoked,” another eyewitness said. Soon after the incident, Minister for Public Health and EngineeringTaj Mohiuddin, who represents the Uri constituency, Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani and DGP Kuldeep Khoda reached the spot. The situation was under control when the reports last came in.

A government spokesman regretted the incident in Baramulla. He said state government had taken a serious view of the incident and asked police to take steps to punish the guilty. He clarified that CISF, troops of which opened fire at the protesters, was not part of the Counter Insurgency Grid operating in the state. The NHPC had hired services of the force exclusively for security of its installations across the state and it (CISF) was not under operational command of either the Unified Headquarters or state government.