Kashmir: Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel on Monday allegedly opened fire in Sopore on the funeral procession of Bilal Ahmed, who died after CRPF fired rubber bullets on a stone-pelting mob that had defied curfew in Sopore town on Sunday evening. According to eyewitnesses many people have been injured in the firing.
However, CRPF denied that its personnel had fired at the funeral procession and said that the its personnel were only escorting J-K Police.
"Yes, the CRPF has not fired any live ammunition or tear gas. No firing has been done by CRPF today. Jammu and Kashmir Police dispersed the mob at the funeral procession. We are there to assist the state police. Today the local magistrates are present, DIG Kashmir is present. I am sure the magistrate will access the situation," said CRPF Director General Vikram Srivastava.
Srivastava also added that and inquiry had been ordered in the June 25 incident in which two youths were allegedly killed when CRPF troopers opened fire at a mob.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti blamed the state government and claimed that criminals were being protected.
"The situation is getting from bad to worse. Every day somebody is getting killed and it seems that the government is totally clueless. It has lost its plot. There is no governance in fact. Law and order is in total disarray. Criminals are being protected but innocent boys are arrested under the Public Safety Act," said Mehbooba.
"The only thing the government seems to be interested is in minting money. I don't think Jammu and Kashmir has seen a worst government than what we have today, whether we talk of corruption or misgovernance, bad administration. In Srinagar, they are arresting young boys but in Jammu they are letting off criminals go scot-free who are involved in murders, involved in land mafia. They have total patronisation of the political leadership and the most unfortunate part is that the government seems to be undoing all the good that was done by the previous government. Today, we find that there is hardly any space left for mainstream politicians or even moderate factions of other parties. The situation is getting from bad to worse in every passing day," added the PDP chief.
The state government has demanded that the Union Home Ministry to punish what it calls the "black sheep in central forces".
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah spoke to Home Minister P Chidambaram on Sunday and expressed strong concern about the recent incidents.
On June 25, two youths were killed and three others injured allegedly in firing by CRPF after the security personnel were attacked by protesters following an encounter in which two terrorists were gunned down.
The area has been under curfew for the past two days after the death of the two teenagers. The state government has announced that schools and colleges in the area will remain closed for the next two days as a precautionary measure. The Hurriyat is planning a march to Sopore on Monday to protest the deaths in the firing.
(With inputs from Mufti Islah)
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