J-K killing: BSF officer handed over to police

Srinagar: Senior BSF commandant R K was on Thursday handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir Police for questioning in connection with the alleged killing of 16-year-old Zahid Farooq on 5th February.

Birdi's name surfaced after the arrest of BSF jawan Lakhvinder Kumar, by whose rifle 16 year old was allegedly killed. Birdi's lawyer had told the Additional District and Sessions Judge this week that he was not absconding and that the police had not taken action against him.

Birdi claimed he had asked the police to question him on Wednesday as well as Thursday but there was no action by the authorities.

He also said he feared evidence was being fabricated against him. However, public prosecution dismissed Birdi's argument saying that the fact of him approaching the court for relief was admission of guilt.

He had withdrawn his anticipatory bail plea on Wednesday and was handed over to Superintendent of Police (city-east) and is lodged in Khotibagh police station, police sources said.

Zahid was killed at Brein-Nishat after he along with his friends had entered into an altercation with BSF personnel who were on their way to Shalimar for a medical check-up.

Though Kumar was arrested, eyewitnesses and the probe claimed that it was at the insistence of the commandant that the BSF Jawan had fired at the boy.

Two BSF jawans - Dhananjay Gori and Ram Singh who were part of the team - had recoded their statement before a magistrate supporting the claims of Kumar that the commandant had even cocked the gun and ordered firing at the boy.

The Commandant had appeared before the Additional District and Sessions Judge Shakti Gupta Wednesday and argued that he was not absconding but it was the police which was taking no action against him. He said he feared that some evidence were being fabricated against him.

Police have seized the weapon that was used to kill the boy and three vehicles used by the personnel of the unit at the time of the incident. The weapon has been sent to ballistic experts for tests.

Forensic teams have taken samples of tyres of the three seized vehicles and matched it with those at the crime scene.

Following Kumar's allegation, the Union Home Ministry has issued suspension order for Birdi, commandant of the 68th battalion, who has been confined to the local headquarters pending an inquiry by an officer of the rank of inspector general.