KL Report
Srinagar
Police has booked Col Dalbinder Singh of the 46 Rashtriya Rifles in the killing of a 25-year old man in Baramulla but army has strongly dismissed the allegations that its men were responsible for the killing of the youth. It has ordered a time-bound Court of Inquiry (CoI) into the firing incident.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday filed an FIR against the Indian Army unit stationed in Baramulla over the killing of a youth. Col Dalbinder Singh of the 46 Rashtriya Rifles has been booked in an FIR registered in this regard.
However, the Army has completely dismissed the suggestion that its men were responsible for the killing of the youth and has ordered a time-bound Court of Inquiry (CoI) into the firing incident.
In a statement, the Army said the death of the youth “could not have been caused due to the firing by the Army personnel as extreme caution was exercised by them and the fire was deliberately aimed in the air”.
As per the Army, a foot patrol unit was attacked by a mob, creating a life-threatening situation for the personnel, forcing them to fire in the air.
The Army spokesman is reported to have said there were intelligence inputs with regard to the plans by terrorists to entangle Army personnel, particularly in Baramulla, in a protest and to attack the Army taking shield of the crowd with a view to trigger large-scale violence.
Meanwhile, situation remains tense across the valley even as curfew has been imposed in 10 police station limits spread across Srinagar, Baramulla ,Sopore, Kulgam and Pulwama.
The youth’s killing has once again ignited the debate over the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz has written to the Centre demanding withdrawal of AFSPA from J&K. Even the chief minister, Omar Abdullah once again demanded the removal of AFSPA.
25-year-old Tahir Ahmad Sofi was killed in a firing incident in Baramulla on Tuesday.
