1 killed during power shortage protests,5 CISF men arrested

The victim was identified as Altaf Ahmad Sood (25),who died on the spot,police said. 70-year-old Abdul Majid Khan and 25-year-old Parvaiz Ahmad Khan sustained injuries,it added.

Official sources said a group of around 500 persons staged protests outside the power plant this morning against recurring electricity shortage in the area.

As the protesters,demanding regular electricity supply,marched towards the main gate of the power plant,CISF personnel guarding the complex allegedly opened fire,the sources 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.

“Five CISF personnel have been arrested following the firing incident in Boniyar area,” Deputy Inspector General of Police,north Kashmir range,Muneer Khan said.

An official spokesman said the Government,while regretting the incident,has taken a serious view and lodged a protest with the Union Home Ministry.

“The state government has taken up the matter with the Union Home Ministry and lodged a protest and demanded stern exemplary action against the delinquent officers,” the spokesman said. The official spokesman said NHPC should have sought the assistance of the local law and order machinery rather than dealing with the protests on its own.

He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has deputed his senior cabinet colleague and local MLA Taj Mohiuddin,Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani and DGP Kuldeep Khoda to the spot.

The spokesman said the CISF whose troops opened the fire were not a part of the Counter Insurgency grid operating in J and K.

“They have been hired by the NHPC exclusively for the security of their installations across the state and are not under the operational command of either the Unified Headquarters or the state government,” he added.

The oppositon PDP and the moderate Hurriyat Conference condemned the youth’s killing.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti,targeting the Chief Minister,said the incident was a “direct result of his accusation that the people are responsible for the current power crisis in Kashmir”.

She said it was ironic that Altaf was killed near the Uri hydel project while demanding electricity supply.

Today’s firing on innocent protesters demanding electricity is a direct consequence of Omar Abdullah’s callous governance,” said Mufti.

The moderate Hurriyat Conference,led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq,said New Year in Kashmir had begun with an incident of “state terrorism”.

“People are now being killed even for seeking basic amenities which is a proof that Kashmir is being ruled by police and army,” a Hurriyat spokesman said in a statement.

Official sources said security forces also fired in the air after protesters gathered at Gingle village near Boniyar and started marching towards the housing colony set up by NHPC.

No one was hurt in the firing,the sources said adding the situation in the Uri sector was tense as people staged protests at various places along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road.

In view of the roadblock and tense situation,the authorities stopped cross-LoC passengers at Mohra,the sources said.

Additional police and para-military personnel have been deployed in sensitive areas to maintain law and order.

The ruling National Conference also condemned the youth’s killing terming it as “unfortunate”.

“We hope suitable action will be taken against those responsible for the firing,” the party said in a statement.