SRINAGAR, Mar 05: Five Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) men involved in the alleged murder of Altaf Ahmad Sood of Boniyar Uri in Baramulla district have been charge-sheeted by police. However, the police in charge sheet claims that the killing took place due to an accidental fire.


The incident took place when hundreds of villagers launched a dharna outside the gate of NHPC-run Uri Hydel Power Project in Boniyar.  Altaf Ahmad Sood, a 12 the class student of Barnate village of Boniyar-Uri was hit on the chest and died after he was returning from tuition. Abdul Majid Khan (70), son of Wali Muhammad and Parvez Ahmad Khan (25), son of Ghulam Hassan sustained injuries. Eyewitness that day said Altaf was not part of the protest.

Hours after the incident a press conference was addressed by home commissioner BR Sharma in Jammu. He 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 under section 302 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 were arrested in this case.

Officials of police station Boniyar told Kashmir Times that police presented charge-sheet into the killing of Altaf in Judicial Magistrate Boniyar against five CISF men. Judicial Magistrate Boniyar who communicated the same to Principal District and Sessions Judge Baramulla.

Though at the time of incident the CISF men were arrested under section 302 RPC (murder), but the charge-sheet says that Altaf was killed due accidental fire. The CISF men have been charged under section 304 RPC and 308 RPC, that death due to accidental fire.

According to officials of police station Boniyar, the investigation of case was carried out by the SHO, inspector Muhammad Shafi. During the investigation statements of 38 persons including the family members and people present in the protest were recorded.

The charge sheet has  been produced despite the chief minister Omar Abdullah assurances that justice will be provided to family. Soon after the incident he hit out at CISF over the killing of youth and called it a "murder" and said the "excessive" force used was "unwarranted and inexcusable".

Omar flew in from Jammu and met the family members of Altaf. He had assured the family that his government would spare no effort in ensuring exemplary punishment to the CISF personnel responsible for the killing.

After meeting the victim's family, chief minister has said, "The way Altaf was killed is really sad. This is not less than a murder. The circumstances of his death are tragic, shocking and inexcusable."