Thaindian News

Srinagar, July 31 (IANS) Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials here Tuesday labelled as “uncalled for and mischievous” a media report quoting one of its officers on the death of a youth in the south Kashmir town of Shopian while denying any involvement in the incident.

A local water tanker operator, Aquib Ahmad Bhat, died in Shopian town late Monday evening and his relatives and residents alleged the paramilitary force was involved, despite police saying the youth died in an accident.

“CRPF is not involved in the youth’s death in any manner and we want to set the record straight that nobody in the force had anything to do with the unfortunate death of the youth,” CRPF PRO Sudhir Kumar told IANS.

Speaking to IANS, CRPF Inspector General B.N. Ramesh said: “A media report attributing a quote to some CRPF officer posted in Shopian town regarding the death of a youth is uncalled for and mischievous.

“Nobody has spoken to the media about the incident on behalf of the CRPF as only the IG and the PRO of the force are authorised to speak to the media.”

There were protests in the town as Bhat’s father and other residents alleged he had been beaten by the CRPF troopers resulting in his death. Police said the death was due to an vehicle accident.

Police in Shopian asked the people to remain vigilant against rumourmongers as the youth’s death occurred as he was crushed under his vehicle after he went under it to check some mechanical defect and the jack, on which the vehicle had been raised, slipped. Bhat succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to Srinagar for treatment.