Kashmiri teenager shot dead by security forces: Attempt to murder case registered against ITBP personnel

An attempt to murder case has been registered against the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel after a video surfaced  in which paramilitary force personnel were found shooting dead a teenager who had pelted stones on them at a polling station on 9 April during the by-election for Srinagar parliamentary seat.

According to police officials, a case has been registered at Beerwah police station against the ITBP personnel as they allegedly fired with an “intention’’ to kill the youth. On 9 April, 16-year-old Akil Wani, had gone out to get medicines for his ailing mother. In the video that went viral, the youth was seen indulging in stone pelting along with some other boys. He died in the firing after security forces foiled the youth’s attempt to disrupt the polling process.

Fayaz Ahmad Shah, sub division police officer (SDPO) Magam, said that they have registered an attempt to murder case under Section 307 of RPC against the ITBP personnel. He said that they could further “upgrade’’ the offence to murder case as the investigation progresses. Sources added that the ITBP personnel, deployed for duty outside the polling station in Atnoo, were brought from Punjab.

The police have also registered a case of kidnapping against the Army after a youth was tied to the bonnet of an Army jeep, while being paraded around as a warning to dissuade “people from pelting stones.’’ On 9 April, the video of  Farooq Ahmad Dar  tied to the Army jeep went viral which drew widespread criticism across Kashmir.

According to police sources, Army personnel from the Beerwah camp had picked up the youth from Utli Gam, strapped him to their jeep and paraded him around. SP Vaid, director general of police, said the FIRs have been registered after the videos surfaced and the investigation was going on.

Akil’s cousin, Gulzar Ahmad Paul, said that they have given their statement to the police in which they described Akil’s death as “cold blooded murder.”

“We don’t want anything short of a murder case registered against the ITBP personnel. We have already informed the police that Akil had gone out to get medicines for his mother, but was shot in the head. In the video, it is visible that the ITBP personnel outnumbered the boys who started pelting stones. There were around seven to eight boys and the ITBP personnel was double the number. The personnel could have easily used some non-lethal weapon or arrested Akil, but they didn’t do so,”  he said adding that when they had gone to the Beerwah police station to lodge a complaint, they were informed that a case has already been registered. “We have also sought the copy of the FIR,’’ he said.

Akil’s father, Mohammad Amin Wani, said that they are seeking exemplary punishment against the personnel who were involved in the incident. “We hope justice is served. It was a brutal murder,’’ he said.

A police official said that they have sought details of the ITBP personnel who were deployed for duty at the Atnoo polling station, where the incident took place, from the nodal officer of the by-election. A letter has been sent in this regard.