Youth8217;s killing in Baramulla: Omar Abdullah breaks down in Assembly

A 25-year-old man was killed and four were injured in firing allegedly by security forces during protests in Baramulla town today.

Hundreds of residents of Baramulla town took to streets to protest what they alleged ransacking of their houses by the army in the area.

The protesters pelted stones at the army personnel who allegedly opened fire to disperse them,they said.

Five persons were injured in the incident. One of them later succumbed to injuries. He was identified as 25-year-old Tahir Latief Sofi.

Omar said he will seek answers for the killing.

8220;Today I want answers for those questions which were raised here by PDP over the killing and silence of New Delhi. I do not have answers immediately but I will seek answers,8221; Omar said while winding up discussion on the joint address of the Governor to the state Legislature.

Omar turned silent for a short while during the course of his address. 8220;I will seek the answers and whosoever8217;s door I have to knock,I will knock. But I will have answers8221;.

The action on the protesters was unjustified,he said.

The Chief Minister said he wants to assure the youths8217; family that a thorough probe will be conducted. 8220;Whatever action is needed from our side,I will take that to ensure justice,8221; he said.

8220;If there was misuse of force8212;I assure you members of the House that I will definitely give them justice8211; otherwise there is no fun of this chair8221;.

Strongly disapproving the action by security forces,Omar said,8221;The firing is at the protesting rally8211; in that rally,as per my reports,there were no militants,there was no firing from the mob8221;.

8220;Even if they had pelted stones8211; what is the big thing in it8211;this is not for the first time8211;have we not faced stones in the past,8221; he contended.

The Chief Minister said the walkout by PDP over the issue was justified. 8220;What answers can I give8211; the questions that these Honourable members of PDP asked me8211; I am posing these questions myself.8221;

8220;The members who protested over the incident and staged a walkout from the House have not done anything wrong8211;I cannot do that8211; my chair does not allow me to do so8211;anger which the members gave went to in the House is more in me8211; I know how I am standing here and talking,8221; he said.

8220;What answer will I give to the people8211; have we for this reasons held the flag of India in our hands8211; for what I have to apologies the people every time and every time I have to answer for every bullet used by the forces8221;,he said.

PDP led by leader of the opposition Mehbooba Mufti raised the issue of killing of the youth. PDP8217;s Basharat Bukhari,who is MLA from North Kashmir,raised slogans blaming Omar,New Delhi and Army for the killing.

The House witnessed angry verbal exchanges between Independent MLA Engineer Abdul Rashid and Congress Minister from Jammu Raman Bhalla,disrupting the proceedings.

On the issue of targeting Chief Minister,Omar said,8221;Somebody is hanged somewhere8211; the decision is taken by someone else8211; mercy petition is rejected somewhere else8211; the incident comes knocking to my house as if I have hanged him Afzal Guru8221;.

Omar refutes reports of resignations

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister today denied reports of his resigning over the killing of a youth in Baramulla,saying if his stepping down can bring a person back to life he will do so in a flash.

Omar on micro-blogging site twitter said,8221;Note to others spreading rumours about my impending resignation 8211; I haven8217;t resigned. If my resignation could bring a person back to life I8217;d resign in a flash. My responsibility to the state and people is to ensure incidents like today8217;s see justice done.8221;

In an earlier tweet,he wrote,8221;Note to PDP don8217;t confuse anger and sadness with helplessness. What you saw today was me angry and sad at the tragic loss of life.8221;

A 25-year-old man was killed and four were injured in firing allegedly by security forces during protests in Baramulla town of north Kashmir today.

Five persons were injured in the firing. One of them later succumbed to injuries. He was identified as 25-year-old Tahir Latief Sofi.