Border Security Force (BSF) on Sunday admitted to killing of a 22-year-old youth at Batmaloo area of Srinagar city, insisting that he died in “aerial firing”.

However, the paramilitary forces insisted that the fire was opened after its personnel came under “heavy” stone pelting and in order to prevent snatching of rifle by the youth.

 “An internal inquiry into the allegations of firing, which led to the death of Sajad Hassan has prima-facie revealed that our men fired at Batmaloo leading to the unfortunate death of the youth,” BSF Spokesman Kashmir Division said.

The spokesman said that the incident happened last evening when a small convoy of BSF were passing through the area which came under “intense” stone pelting near SD Colony in Batmaloo. In the meantime, some youths attempted to snatch a service rifle from one of our jawan which prompted our jawans to open fire.

Even as the personnel opened few aerial shots but unfortunately one of the bullet hit the youth who died, the spokesman said.

 “The intention of our jawans was not to kill anyone but fired in a bid to prevent snatching of rifle as attempted by the youth”, he said.

The spokesman said that apart from their internal inquiry, BSF is ready to cooperate with the police investigation as per the law of land.

Meanwhile, a police official said that they have approached BSF authorities and have urged them to handover accused men to it.

A police officer said that a case under FIR no 53/2017 under section 302 RPC has been registered against the BSF men involved in the killing of Sajad Hussain, a resident of Chandoosa Baramulla at present SD Colony, Batamaloo.

Meanwhile, sources said that the BSF Sub Inspector Rajinder Baghde of 38 bn BSF who was heading the small convoy consisting of three vehicles has submitted the incident report to the police.

In the report, the BSF officer has mentioned that they were on way to Humhama BSF Headquarters after returning from army’s Veterinary unit near Allochibagh where they had gone to treat a sniffer dog. In the report he has insisted that the paramilitary forces opened fire after its personnel came under “heavy” stone pelting and there was a bid by the youth to snatch rifle from one of the personnel who were part of the convoy.

Pertinently, 22 year old Sajjad Hussain Sheikh, 22, son of Ghulam Hassan, a resident of Dodbug Chundoosa, Tangmarg of Baramulla district was killed on Sunday evening after BSF men from 38 Battalion had opened fire upon a group of youth near Reck Chowk in Batmaloo.

However, sources had said, they lost their way and entered interiors of Batamaloo. Sources said that as the youth at Reka Chowk spotted BSF vehicle, they pelted stones on them and the BSF men opened fire.

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