Teenager killing: BSF suspends commandant for not reporting facts

SRINAGAR - The Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday suspended Commandant R K Birdi for not reporting facts on teenager killing and for lack of command over his troops.

The BSF took the decision after holding an internal inquiry into the incident.

According to BSF, Birdi has been suspended for not reporting facts and for lack of command over his troops.

Biradi’s suspension doesn’t implicate or exonerate him in the incident and he is not suspended over allegations of killing the Kashmir teenager, it added.

Biradi was commanding the 68th BSF Battalion in the Kashmir Valley.

On February 5, a sixteen-year-old Zahid Farooq was shot dead when he jeered at a passing BSF convoy and this followed a huge protest in the Valley.

Commandant Birdi who is being probed, has admitted in his statement that the jawan fired but he has told his superiors that he neither gave orders nor fired himself.

Earlier the BSF denied its personnel’s role in the killing of Farooq, but after an internal inquiry it admitted that one if its men shot the teenager.

Zahid and his friends were on their way home after their cricket game in Srinagar’s Nishat area was rained out. They came across three BSF vehicles and began shouting at it. Incensed, constable Lakhvinder Kumar allegedly got out and shot Zahid at point blank range.

Constable Kumar has been handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir Police who are investigating the matter.

It was reported that the BSF personnel who were interrogated by the J and K Police told investigators that constable Kumar was forced to fire at the boy.

On Friday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, took up the matter with the Union Home Ministry.

Meanwhile, the BSF has denied any cover-up in the matter and assured to extend full co-operation with the J and K Police. (ANI)