SRINAGAR: Inspector General of police Kashmir Vijay Kumar along with other senior police officers on Saturday visited the family of a civilian who was killed at Sopore earlier this week.
“I heard their grievances and I cleared all aspects. I also assured them an impartial investigation (into the incident),” IGP told news agency GNS after his visit. “I also assured the family to show CCTV footage if they wish to see the same.”
The family has at least three persons, all females, working for the police and the family disbelieving the police version was a major issue for the 150-strong police force. The situation was all the more embarrassing because of the series of photographs that showed the grandson of the slain sitting on his dead body. The photograph triggered a widespread condemnation for using the tragedy of the toddler for public relations purpose.
The civilian, Bashir Ahmad Khan son of Ghulam Mohammad Khan of Mustafa Colony HMT Srinagar, was killed in a firing incident near Nowpora crossing Model Town Sopore on July 1.
Police says the civilian was killed in militant firing which also saw the killing of a CRPF trooper and injuries to three other paramilitary men.
However, in a video statement that was shared on social media, slain man’s son Suhail Ahmad alleged his father was killed by the CRPF personnel. Suhail had alleged the CRPF personnel “dragged him from his car and shot him dead”.
Khan, who was a contractor, had taken his grandson from Srinagar to Sopore to oversee the progress of a construction work.
Soon after the video started doing rounds on social media and “apprehending law and order situation”, IGP Vijay Kumar called a Press Conference.
“When militants started firing in which a CRPF trooper attained martyrdom and three others were injured, a civilian vehicle was going from the area. The man left the vehicle in panic and started to run away for safety by carrying his 3-year-old grandson in his lap. The fire also hit him and he died,” the IGP had said.
