Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday met the family of the student killed in CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) firing and said he will leave no stone unturned to ensure justice for the victim of the "inexcusable use of force".
"Even if I have to knock [on] the doors of the court, I will get justice for the father who lost his son yesterday," Abdullah said in Boniyar in Baramulla, a day after 18-year-old Altaf Ahmad Sood was killed when CISF troopers fired at people protesting against power cuts.
Two protesters were injured.
"The excessive use of force was unwarranted," Abdullah told a television channel. "That is the case that has been filed, that is the case we will pursue in the course of justice."
The chief minister added it was unclear what Altaf was doing at the protest. "That is irrelevant. He was shot twice in the chest. It is an inexcusable use of force."
Condolences
"We will use whatever law we have to — to ensure that justice is done."
Abdullah, who visited the bereaved family yesterday to express his condolences, told a group of locals that their demand for enhanced electric power supply was justified.
He promised that they would get an enhanced electric power supply within two days and regretted that a precious life was lost during the protests.
Despite the strong words, protests again erupted in Boniyar after he left. Locals pelted stones at official vehicles and blocked the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway that passes through Boniyar.
Five CISF troopers were arrested Monday. A magisterial probe by additional deputy commissioner (Baramulla), to be completed in 15 days, has also been ordered into the incident by the state government.
Rs100,000 (Dh6,901) has been sanctioned as ex gratia relief for the next of kin of the deceased student.
Abdullah said Monday the CISF had been hired by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) for the security of its power station and was not protected under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act as it was not part of the counter insurgency grid.
Public protests against an erratic electric power supply have been witnessed in many places in the Kashmir Valley, which has been battling a cold winter.
While the electric department blames low water discharge in the rivers for the reduced generation of power, they also accuse consumers of pilfering. Abdullah said he would approach Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek additional electricity power import into the state.
"Even if I have to knock [on] the doors of the court, I will get justice for the father who lost his son yesterday," Abdullah said in Boniyar in Baramulla, a day after 18-year-old Altaf Ahmad Sood was killed when CISF troopers fired at people protesting against power cuts.
Two protesters were injured.
"The excessive use of force was unwarranted," Abdullah told a television channel. "That is the case that has been filed, that is the case we will pursue in the course of justice."
The chief minister added it was unclear what Altaf was doing at the protest. "That is irrelevant. He was shot twice in the chest. It is an inexcusable use of force."
Condolences
"We will use whatever law we have to — to ensure that justice is done."
Abdullah, who visited the bereaved family yesterday to express his condolences, told a group of locals that their demand for enhanced electric power supply was justified.
He promised that they would get an enhanced electric power supply within two days and regretted that a precious life was lost during the protests.
Despite the strong words, protests again erupted in Boniyar after he left. Locals pelted stones at official vehicles and blocked the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway that passes through Boniyar.
Five CISF troopers were arrested Monday. A magisterial probe by additional deputy commissioner (Baramulla), to be completed in 15 days, has also been ordered into the incident by the state government.
Rs100,000 (Dh6,901) has been sanctioned as ex gratia relief for the next of kin of the deceased student.
Abdullah said Monday the CISF had been hired by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) for the security of its power station and was not protected under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act as it was not part of the counter insurgency grid.
Public protests against an erratic electric power supply have been witnessed in many places in the Kashmir Valley, which has been battling a cold winter.
While the electric department blames low water discharge in the rivers for the reduced generation of power, they also accuse consumers of pilfering. Abdullah said he would approach Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek additional electricity power import into the state.
