Kashmir teen dies in forces' firing, magisterial probe ordered

The government Saturday ordered a magisterial probe into the killing of Suhail Ahmad (16) who fell to the bullets in firing by the security forces
early this morning when they were protesting against re-arrest of hardliner separatist leader Masrat Alam at Narabal in Budgam district, about 15 km from Srinagar, official said.

“Additional Deputy Commissioner Budgam has been asked to investigate the reasons leading to death of one person and injury to 2
others due to firing at Magam early today during a procession  and furnish the report within 15 days," Deputy commissioner of Budgam Altaf
Ahmad said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday confessed that forces deployed at Magam, Narbal area violated the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) which resulted in the death of young Suhail Ahmad Sofi.

“Preliminary enquiry conducted in the matter indicates that the forces deployed have acted in violation of the laid down SOP. Case FIR No 34/2015 under section 302,147,149,341,427 RPC has been registered in police station Magam and further action would follow,” the  police said in a statement.

Regretting the death and terming it unfortunate, the  statement said, “We regret the unfortunate incident and extend our sympathies to the bereaved family.”

The police said that in Magam area there were reports of stone pelting on vehicles plying on Narbal-Gulmarg road.

The police, along with paramilitary police, were deployed to contain the situation. The deployed forces came under heavy pelting.

To control the situation they fired few rounds resulting in injuries to a local youth namely Suhail Ahmad Sofi , son of Abdul Ahad Sofi.

“Unfortunately the injured later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital,”  the statement said.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)