Cops to question BSF officer in Kashmir boy’s killing
By IANSMonday, February 15, 2010
SRINAGAR - The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the killing of a 17-year-old youth Feb 5 here is to summon a senior Border Security Force (BSF) officer for questioning over allegations that he ordered his junior officer to fire at the boy.
BSF Commanding Officer R.K. Birdi has already been suspended and attached to the Srinagar headquarters of the paramilitary force to ensure his availability for questioning.
This follows the revelation by an arrested BSF trooper, Lakhwinder Kumar of 68 battalion, that he had opened fire at the teen-ager, Zahid Farooq Sheikh, on the orders of his boss.
The SIT Monday questioned a BSF doctor who had carried out a routine medical check-up of Birdi and other troopers on Feb 5.
“We will summon him (Birdi) in a day or two for questioning in the case,” a senior police officer told IANS.
The police are questioning the 14 BSF troopers who were part of the convoy led by Birdi that day. The BSF convoy on return from its Nishat camp had stopped near Brein and fired at the youth killing him on the spot.
In the meantime, the local residents of Brein have formed a coordination committee to seek punishment for the BSF commandant, who they say had opened fire at Zahid Farooq Sheikh after snatching the rifle from his guard.
