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Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday flew to border pocket Uri, to assure justice to the kin of the 18-year-old who died during firing by CISF personnel trying to keep back protesters.
Abdullah spent a few minutes with the impoverished family but his arrival was marked by protests and slogan-shouting, despite heavy security deployment.
Altaf Ahmad Sood was killed and two others wounded on Monday, when residents in Bonoyar pocket of north Kashmir were protesting against erratic power supply. They were fired upon by CISF personnel guarding residential quarters of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) employees.
Five CISF personnel have been arrested and the CM said the erring men would not get immunity under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which Abdullah has been trying to get removed for some time now.
While the Opposition, traders and separatists have launched a scathing attack on the Government, finishing three years’ term, the official machinery has swung in to offset chances of a flare-up. Sources said the Chief Minister’s visit was aimed at keeping the peace in the area.
“The circumstances leading to his (Sood’s) death are shocking, tragic and inexcusable,” Abdullah tweeted after visiting Uri along with the Director General of CISF, two Ministers and the State police chief.
At Saki Brinyat, he told villagers, “The death is not less than a murder. Even if we have to move court or take recourse to any law to punish the personnel behind the killing of Altaf Ahmad, we would do so positively.” Abdullah claimed the youngster was returning from tuitions when two bullets hit him in the chest.
Kashmir Economic Alliance, an amalgam of traders, has called for a day-long shutdown on Friday in protest of Sood’s killing. The alliance described NHPC as a reincarnation of the East India Company, which has left the State in penury after exploiting power resources. “It is unfortunate that the power-starved people are confronted with bullets,” said alliance chief Yasin Khan.
Head of the Opposition People’s Democratic Party Mehbooba Mufti and separatist leader Yasin Malik also visited the far-flung village to protest the killing. “Use of brute force by the Government is to muzzle the voice of the people, who are suffering unprecedented problems as a result of misgovernance,” Mehbooba said.
Malik announced a peaceful demonstration at Lal Chowk on Friday. He accused the Government of encouraging institutional corruption.
People’s Conference leader Sajjad Lone termed it a brutal and unprovoked murder and accused the Government of failure in delivering political optimism to the people. “The Government is busy in escaping blame for what’s primarily its own responsibility,” Lone pointed out.
Meanwhile, on the second leg of his mission to cool down tempers in Kashmir over Sood’s killing and brewing resentment against power shortage, Abdullah visited Pampore town to formally kickstart expensive diesel generators.
Abdullah spent a few minutes with the impoverished family but his arrival was marked by protests and slogan-shouting, despite heavy security deployment.
Altaf Ahmad Sood was killed and two others wounded on Monday, when residents in Bonoyar pocket of north Kashmir were protesting against erratic power supply. They were fired upon by CISF personnel guarding residential quarters of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) employees.
Five CISF personnel have been arrested and the CM said the erring men would not get immunity under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which Abdullah has been trying to get removed for some time now.
While the Opposition, traders and separatists have launched a scathing attack on the Government, finishing three years’ term, the official machinery has swung in to offset chances of a flare-up. Sources said the Chief Minister’s visit was aimed at keeping the peace in the area.
“The circumstances leading to his (Sood’s) death are shocking, tragic and inexcusable,” Abdullah tweeted after visiting Uri along with the Director General of CISF, two Ministers and the State police chief.
At Saki Brinyat, he told villagers, “The death is not less than a murder. Even if we have to move court or take recourse to any law to punish the personnel behind the killing of Altaf Ahmad, we would do so positively.” Abdullah claimed the youngster was returning from tuitions when two bullets hit him in the chest.
Kashmir Economic Alliance, an amalgam of traders, has called for a day-long shutdown on Friday in protest of Sood’s killing. The alliance described NHPC as a reincarnation of the East India Company, which has left the State in penury after exploiting power resources. “It is unfortunate that the power-starved people are confronted with bullets,” said alliance chief Yasin Khan.
Head of the Opposition People’s Democratic Party Mehbooba Mufti and separatist leader Yasin Malik also visited the far-flung village to protest the killing. “Use of brute force by the Government is to muzzle the voice of the people, who are suffering unprecedented problems as a result of misgovernance,” Mehbooba said.
Malik announced a peaceful demonstration at Lal Chowk on Friday. He accused the Government of encouraging institutional corruption.
People’s Conference leader Sajjad Lone termed it a brutal and unprovoked murder and accused the Government of failure in delivering political optimism to the people. “The Government is busy in escaping blame for what’s primarily its own responsibility,” Lone pointed out.
Meanwhile, on the second leg of his mission to cool down tempers in Kashmir over Sood’s killing and brewing resentment against power shortage, Abdullah visited Pampore town to formally kickstart expensive diesel generators.
