Police clarifies on Baramulla firing incident

Srinagar June 29: Jammu and Kashmir police clarifies the allegations leveled by the wife of an accused that led to the death of two civilians today when police had to open fire to control the mob.

In a statement issued here tonight, police said that on 29.06.2009, Baramulla town witnessed protests over the issue relating to the kidnapping of a minor girl of a village Binner.

“The Police, during investigation, arrested one Mohammad Yousuf Bhat of village Sheeri who was instrumental in engineering the kidnapping of the girl by his brother-in-law namely Mehraj-ud-Din Marazi”, the statement said adding that during the questioning of Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, it transpired that the abductee and the abductor were in Srinagar and a Police party was thus deputed to Srinagar. The abductee was recovered in early hours of today and accused Mehraj-ud-Din has also been arrested.

The statement further said that the provocation for the violent incident today and also the stone pelting last evening related to an allegation made by the wife of accused Mohammad Yousuf Bhat and also the sister of the abductor that she went to the Police Station seeking release of her husband and that initially she alleged that bribe was demanded for release of her husband.

“In a subsequent change of statement before media, she stated that a Police officer misbehaved with her. It may be mentioned that a number of respectable who were present in the Police Station when she reported in the Police Station, denied the allegations” the statement added.

“In fact the father of abductee and also her family members who were present in Police station denied these allegations. The father of the abductee made his statement in media to this effect”, police handout added.

In the morning today, police clarifies that the local channels utilized by the administration to appraise the public about the circumstances leading to the arrest of Mohammad Yousuf Bhat husband of the complaining lady.

The reaction of the people however appeared to be result of misinformation and a malicious campaign by vested interests, police alleged.

A huge mob from old town Baramulla targeted the Police Station and other deployments in uptown with stone pelting.

“The deployment on the ground resorted to cane charge and teargas to bring the situation under control. The situation however turned violent during which the SHO of Police station Baramulla and also a DySP besides a nineteen police men and nine CRPF men got injured due to heavy stone pelting” the statement added.

The continued attack on deployments turned very violent during the course of which firing incident has taken place in which 02 persons died and about 10 persons were also injured during the law and order situation. Section 144 CrPC has been imposed in Baramulla town and situation is being monitored closely, the statement further added.(NAK)