New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Vikram Srivastava denied that his men opened fire on protesters in Kashmir Monday, killing two youth.
Srivastava told media persons here that his personnel had not fired a single bullet in any part of the valley Monday. ‘Maybe some rubber bullets might have been fired,’ he said, adding the basic duty of the CRPF is to assist the state police in maintaining law and order in the state.
His clarification came amidst reports of the killing of two more teenagers – Tariq Ahmed of Baramulla and Tajamul Ahmed Bhat of Sopore – in alleged firing by security forces. In all, five youth have died in firing by security forces in the past five days in the valley.
Srivastava said that the CRPF has ordered an inquiry into the Sopore firing. Countering the charges against his force, he alleged that the protesters had opened firing on the CRPF troopers.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah spoke to Home Minister P. Chidambaram Sunday and complained about the death of civilians in firing by the security forces.
