Srinagar/ Ludhiana (February 14, 2010): Bowing before constant agitation of people of Kashmir the Border Security Force (BSF) of India on Saturday (February 13, 2010) suspended the Commandant of 68th Battalion in connection with the killing of teenager Zahid Farooq here on February 5, 2010. An inquiry has also been ordered into the circumstances that led to the killing of Kashmiri teenager student at the hands of a constable.
Commandant RK Birdi, posted at Nishat, was suspended for not reporting the incident to the higher authorities in time and for lack of command over his troops. “Sources revealed that the suspension orders had come yesterday, two days after BSF Director General PPS Sidhu had admitted the possible involvement of Constable Lakhwinder Singh. He has already been suspended and handed over to the police.” Says a TNS report.
The investigation team is also questioning 15-odd BSF personnel accompanying the accused at the time of the incident. “As and when their presence is required by the police in connection with the investigations, they are being produced,” a BSF officer said. The killing of 16-year-old Zahid Farooq in Srinagar, five days after another teen – Wamiq Farooq – was shot dead in the downtown area, triggered massive protests in Kashmir, prompting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to order an inquiry by the Divisional Commissioner. Shah was killed on February five at Brain near Nishat on the banks of the Dal Lake and according to the eyewitnesses there was an altercation following which the shooting incident took place.
PTI adds that fourteen other men of the 68th Battalion have also been suspended. Commandant RK Birdi has been confined to the local headquarters.