Youth killed in Batmaloo after intense stone pelting, bid to snatch rifle : BSF

Says he died in 'aerial firing', ready to cooperate with police investigation

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 16-Apr-2017

Border Security Force (BSF) on Sunday admitted to killing of a 22-year-old youth at Batmaloo area of Srinagar city, insisting that he died in "aerial firing".However, the paramilitary forces insisted that the fire was opened after its personnel came under "heavy" stone pelting and in order to prevent snatching of rifle by the youth.“An internal inquiry into the allegations of firing, which led to the death of Sajad Hassan has prima-facie revealed that our men fired at Batmaloo leading to the unfortunate death of the youth,” BSF Spokesman Kashmir Division told news agency GNS.The spokesman said that the incident happened last evening when a small convoy of BSF were passing through the area and came under "intense" stone pelting near SD Colony in Batmaloo. In the meantime, some youths attempted to snatch a service rifle from one of our jawan which prompted our jawans to open fire.Even as the personnel opened few aerial shots but unfortunately one of the bullet hit the youth who died, the spokesman said.

"The intention of our jawans was not to kill anyone but fired in a bid to prevent snatching of rifle as attempted by the youth", he said.The spokesman said that apart from their internal inquiry, BSF is ready to cooperate with the police investigation as per the law of land.Meanwhile, a police official told news agency GNS that they have approached BSF authority and have urged them to handover accused men to it.Pertinently, the youth Sajjad Hussain Sheikh, 22, son of Ghulam Hassan, a resident of Dodbug Chundoosa, Tangmarg of Baramulla district was killed on Sunday evening after BSF men from 38 Battalion had opened fire upon a group of youth near Reck Chowk in Batmaloo.However, sources had said, they lost their way and entered interiors of Batamaloo. Sources had said that as the youth at Reka Chowk spotted BSF vehicle, they pelted stones on them and the BSF men opened fire. (GNS)