Srinagar, Jan 2, 2012: A 12th class student was killed and two other civilians were injured when Indian Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel deployed near Hydroelectric Power Corporation projects in Kashmir opened fire on people protesting against power shortage in Boniyar area of Baramulla district. The incident took place when hundreds of villagers launched a dharna outside the gate of HPC-run Uri Hydel Power Project. Altaf Ahmad Sood of Barnate village of Boniyar-Uri area of Baramulla district was hit on chest and died after he was returning from tuition while Abdul Majid Khan (70) son of Wali Muhammad and Parvez Ahmad Khan (25) son of Ghulam Hassan sustained injuries. The injured have been shifted to Baramulla Sub-District Hospital. However, the locals said that seven persons were injured in the unprovoked firing by CISF armed men.
Facing acute shortage of power in the areas including Kichama, Gantmula and Boniyar, Boniyar residents staged protests outside Hydroelectric Power Corporation -run Uri-I power project on Monday January 2 afternoon seeking regular power supply.
As the protestors marched towards the project, the CISF personnel opened fire, killing 12th class student Altaf Ahmad Sood (18) son of Bashir Ahmad of Barnait, Boniyar on the spot. Parvaiz Ahmad son of Ghulam Hassan and Abdul Majid son of Wali Muhammad, both of Boniyar, were injured in the firing.
Eyewitness said Altaf was not part of the protest. “He just happened to pass by the area after coming from tuition. He was hit by a bullet in his chest,” said a resident Abdul Rashid Awan. The deceased is a close relative of IAS officer Muhammad Sharief Sood. Another eyewitness said demonstrations were peaceful and some of the senior citizens of the area were talking to senior officials in the office of Tehsildar Boniyar at the time of the incident.
“We were talking to Tehsildar Boniyar, DSP Uri and SDPO, in the office of Tehsildar Boniyar at the time of the incident. We don’t understand how come they (CISF) resorted to firing when we were holding talks,” said Fareed Ahmad, head of village (Sarpanch) of the area.
“Our land was taken up for the project with the promise that we will be supplied uninterrupted power,” said Muhammad Ibrahim, a protester. Another eyewitness, while showing the note book of the killed student and the blood stains on the road, said the deceased was not part of the protest.
Syed Shaid Shafi, a resident of Boniyar, who was among the protestors, said dharna was peaceful and members of civil administration including SDM, tehsildar and SDPO Boniyar reached the spot in the afternoon.
“The civil administration called upon nine sarpanches and took them to tehsildar office to hold talks,” he said. He said the protestors continued their peaceful agitation near the Hydroelectric Power Corporation gate. “We did not allow any vehicle to ply on road. It was a peaceful dharna. However, without any provocation, CISF personnel deployed near the main gate came out on the road and started aerial firing at around 1: 15 pm,” he said.
“Due to CISF personnel’s aerial firing, panic gripped protesters and they started running for safety. During this process, the CISF men started shooting straight into the crowds. 18-year-old youth identified as Altaf Ahmad Sood son of Bashir Ahmad of Boniyar, Baramulla was hit by a bullet in the chest. He died on spot. Two others also sustained injuries in CISF firing and have been hospitalized,” Shafi said.
Another eyewitness Ali Mohammad said Altaf was not part of the protest. “He was not an agitator. He was standing nearby. He was a 12th class student and was having books with him. He was going for tuitions,” he said.
The sources said the firing incident led to tension in the area as residents in the area gathered outside the plant demanding arrest of the CISF personnel responsible for the death of Sood.
SSP Baramulla Haseeb Mughal claimed all five CISF personnel deployed near the main gate of NHPC have been arrested. “We have detained five CISF personnel and registered an FIR against them. Investigations have been initiated,” he said. The arrestees have been identified as Sub-Inspector Krishan Thapa, Havaldar Dwarka Prashad, Constable Raju Ranjan, Constable Ajay Singh and Constable Mohammad Shabir.
SSP said two civilians identified as 70-year-old Abdul Majid Khan and 25-year-old Parvaiz Ahmad Khan also sustained bullet injuries in CISF firing. “Both are out of danger,” he said.
"Five CISF personnel have been arrested following the firing incident in Boniyar area," Deputy Inspector General of Police, north Kashmir range, Muneer Khan claimed.
Police however, reported that they had arrested five CISF personnel involved in the firing.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, north Kashmir range, Muneer Khan told media men that police has arrested five CISF personnel in connection with the incident.
“The case (FIR No. 01/2012) has been registered under section 302 RPC (murder) at police station Boniyar," he said. The arrested CISF persons are Sub-Inspector Krishan Thapa, Havaldar Dwarka Prashad, Constable Raju Ranjan, Constable Ajay K Singh, constables Pawan Kumar and J S Yadav.
Addressing a press conference at Jammu, Principal Secretary Home, BR Sharma, averred that all the arrested CISF personnel involved in the firing incident do not fall under the purview of black law, Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and will not get immunity under the Act, he claimed. Sharma informed that FIR number 1 of 2012 has been registered at Police Station Boniyar and five CISF personnel Sub-Inspector Krishan Thapa, Havaldar Dwarka Prashad, Constable Raju Ranjan, Constable Ajay Singh and Constable Mohammad Shabir have been arrested in this case.
Meanwhile, the death of Altaf Ahmad Sood in an unprovoked firing by CISF personnel in Boniyar, Baramulla has shattered the dreams of his family. Altaf’s family is in shock ever since the report of his death was broken to the family of five on Monday afternoon.
“His father, Bashir Ahmad is speechless while his mother is unconscious,” Altaf’s cousin and village head (Sarpanch) Battinge, Barnatte, Abdul Rashid Sood talking to media men said they are still unable to believe that their ward was not alive.
Altaf was killed and two others injured after CISF personnel opened fire on the protesters, who staged dharna against the frequent power cuts in north Kashmir Boniyar area of Uri.
Belonging to an impoverished family, the victim’s father raised his three children including Altaf with great difficulty. Altaf was the eldest of the three siblings.
“Bashir is a labourer by profession. The family is extremely poor and they were spending each penny on Altaf’s education for his better tomorrow. All their hopes of better future wrested with Altaf,” Rashid said.
The family said Altaf was a class 12th student and returning from tuitions with a group of students from Baramulla.
“He was studying in Class 12th and was enrolled in higher secondary Baramulla. Today he left his house in the morning for tuitions and submitting school fees. On return, when he saw people assembled near the main entrance of HPC, he stopped there. Later the CISF personnel targeted him and killed him in cold blood,” Altaf’s cousin Rashid said.
He said the fees receipts and books were with him when he was shot. “Altaf was a very diligent and always scored good marks in the exams. He was the only hope for the impoverished family, who live in abject condition,” he said, “Now all the dreams of the family lay shattered,” added Rashid.
Complete shutdown in Uri town was held against the incident on Tuesday.
In a similar incident in late ’80s, six persons who were part of demonstrations against electricity shortage, were killed in police firing during Dr. Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference regime.