A young man was killed and two others wounded when the Personal Security Officer of a senior government officer opened fire at an irate crowd that had surrounded his vehicle at Letapora along the Srinagar-Jammu highway about 27-km from Srinagar on Tuesday evening.
One of the two injured, identified as Suhail Ahmed Wani is reportedly critical. While a report said that he has also died in a Srinagar hospital, police said that doctors have not confirmed it to them so far.
Reports said that a protest was underway at Letapora and when the sub-district magistrate of Ramban district reached there the participants who were chanting slogans against police atrocities encircled it.
Sensing trouble the PSO of the officer opened fire killing and injuring two protesters. The slain youth has been identified as Farooq Ahmed Kuchay, a resident of Lethpora.
The mob subsequently torched the vehicle and the CRPF personnel deployed at a nearby government rice mill were seen rushing towards the spot and took the officer, his PSO and others who were travelling to Ramban from Srinagar in “protective custody.”
Police officials said that investigations are on. They also said that SDM Ramban told them that his vehicle was attacked by a violent mob and that his PSO opened fire “in self defence.” Massive protests were underway in the areas as reports last came in.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the State government and the Centre asking them to file a response to a petition seeking direction to ban the use of pellet guns for crowd control in the Valley. A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magray, said the notices had to be responded to by August 17.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by the KHCBA which sought direction to put an end to use of pellet guns during law and order situations.
The PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, DG J&K police, DG CRPF and the Central government have been made parties to the case.
In its petition, the Bar Association prayed that the use of pellet guns be totally banned as a means of crowd control. The lawyers’ body said the officers, who took the decision of using the pellet guns after July 8, be prosecuted and punished.
