By: Altaf Baba
Baramulla, Jan 05: Contrary to the claims of Director General Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), NR Das, that his men had to act only after agitating people turned violent and started ransacking the NHPC facility at Boniyar on Monday, the investigation carried out by the police reveals that the firing was unprovoked.
The investigation, supported by photographs and video clips at the scene, confirms that the installation had not been vandalized and even the quarter guard near the main gate of the NHPC installation was partially damaged after people got furious over the killing of a youth and injuries to two.
The photographs taken by the police inside the NHPC premises, soon after the firing, show that not a single vehicle of the corporation had been damaged in the incident indicating that there was no attempt to vandalize the installation.
The investigation has also nullified the CISF claim that the CISF personnel deployed at the installation were not properly equipped to deal with law and order situations. The cops found helmets, shields and bamboo sticks inside the premises which were not used by the CISF personnel at the time of the incident.
“It is a general norm that all such installments throughout the country, where CISF personnel are deployed to guard central industries, are always equipped with such tools so that they can deal with law and order problems,” said a police officer.
It was surprising for the investigation team that no CCTV footage was given to the police by the CISF officials though every such installation is equipped with CCTV cameras. The investigation team felt that either the footage has not been given deliberately or CCTV cameras were not installed and in both the cases fault lies with the agency.
Investigation also reveals that 80-90 rounds were fired by the CISF men. Police has already arrested 5 CISF personnel on the basis of video clips. Out of the five, three CISF personnel were found firing from outside the gate of the NHPC installation. Police has taken 6 days’ remand which is likely to be extended up to 15 days. According to police sources, challan will be produced within 90 days as per the procedure.
What Led To The Confrontation?
As per the police investigation, around 80-100 people had gathered near NHPC project, around 8.30 am on Monday to protest against the erratic power supply and against NHPC for their failure to provide the catchments of the project uninterrupted power supply.
SDPO Uri and SHO Boniyar arrived at the spot and requested the protesters to visit Deputy Commissioner’s office at Baramulla for the redress of their problem. The protesters were reluctant to visit DC office and insisted that Deputy Commissioner should instead visit the spot.
The protesters were later taken to Tehsil office Boniyar and were joined by SDM. The talks were on and in the meantime some 30-35 protesting people pelted some stones towards the main gate of the installation. The Station House Officer (SHO) Boniyar was at the spot when the incident took place.
The Commanding Officer of the CISF called the SDPO Uri and appraised him about the stone pelting incident. The SDPO Uri, as per the investigation, asked the Commanding Officer to wait for 5-10 minutes (as Tehsil office Boniyar is just 30-35 meters from the NHPC project).
“It seems that the CISF men were impatient and instead of waiting just for 10 minutes, they fired at the protesters. One of the police personnel seized the gun of a CISF man, otherwise casualties could have been much more,” said a police official on the condition of anonymity.
Baramulla, Jan 05: Contrary to the claims of Director General Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), NR Das, that his men had to act only after agitating people turned violent and started ransacking the NHPC facility at Boniyar on Monday, the investigation carried out by the police reveals that the firing was unprovoked.
The investigation, supported by photographs and video clips at the scene, confirms that the installation had not been vandalized and even the quarter guard near the main gate of the NHPC installation was partially damaged after people got furious over the killing of a youth and injuries to two.
The photographs taken by the police inside the NHPC premises, soon after the firing, show that not a single vehicle of the corporation had been damaged in the incident indicating that there was no attempt to vandalize the installation.
The investigation has also nullified the CISF claim that the CISF personnel deployed at the installation were not properly equipped to deal with law and order situations. The cops found helmets, shields and bamboo sticks inside the premises which were not used by the CISF personnel at the time of the incident.
“It is a general norm that all such installments throughout the country, where CISF personnel are deployed to guard central industries, are always equipped with such tools so that they can deal with law and order problems,” said a police officer.
It was surprising for the investigation team that no CCTV footage was given to the police by the CISF officials though every such installation is equipped with CCTV cameras. The investigation team felt that either the footage has not been given deliberately or CCTV cameras were not installed and in both the cases fault lies with the agency.
Investigation also reveals that 80-90 rounds were fired by the CISF men. Police has already arrested 5 CISF personnel on the basis of video clips. Out of the five, three CISF personnel were found firing from outside the gate of the NHPC installation. Police has taken 6 days’ remand which is likely to be extended up to 15 days. According to police sources, challan will be produced within 90 days as per the procedure.
What Led To The Confrontation?
As per the police investigation, around 80-100 people had gathered near NHPC project, around 8.30 am on Monday to protest against the erratic power supply and against NHPC for their failure to provide the catchments of the project uninterrupted power supply.
SDPO Uri and SHO Boniyar arrived at the spot and requested the protesters to visit Deputy Commissioner’s office at Baramulla for the redress of their problem. The protesters were reluctant to visit DC office and insisted that Deputy Commissioner should instead visit the spot.
The protesters were later taken to Tehsil office Boniyar and were joined by SDM. The talks were on and in the meantime some 30-35 protesting people pelted some stones towards the main gate of the installation. The Station House Officer (SHO) Boniyar was at the spot when the incident took place.
The Commanding Officer of the CISF called the SDPO Uri and appraised him about the stone pelting incident. The SDPO Uri, as per the investigation, asked the Commanding Officer to wait for 5-10 minutes (as Tehsil office Boniyar is just 30-35 meters from the NHPC project).
“It seems that the CISF men were impatient and instead of waiting just for 10 minutes, they fired at the protesters. One of the police personnel seized the gun of a CISF man, otherwise casualties could have been much more,” said a police official on the condition of anonymity.
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