SRINAGAR: A young man was killed on the spot and two others injured when CISF personnel opened fire on Monday to disperse protesters agitated over power shortage in Boniyar area of Baramulla district in the Kashmir Valley.
Five personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) allegedly involved in the firing incident outside the NHPC-run Uri power project at Boniyar, 90 kms from here, have been arrested while the state government lodged a protest with the Union Home Ministry.
The victim was identified as Altaf Ahmad Sood (25), who died on the spot, police said. 70-year-old Abdul Majid Khan and 25-year-old Parvaiz Ahmad Khan sustained injuries, it added.
Official sources said a group of around 500 persons staged protests outside the power plant this morning against recurring electricity shortage in the area.
As the protesters, demanding regular electricity supply, marched towards the main gate of the power plant, CISF personnel guarding the complex allegedly opened fire, the sources said.
The sources said the firing incident led to tension in the area as residents in the area gathered outside the plant demanding arrest of the CISF personnel responsible for the death of Sood.
"Five CISF personnel have been arrested following the firing incident in Boniyar area," Deputy Inspector General of Police, north Kashmir range, Muneer Khan said.
An official spokesman said the Government, while regretting the incident, has taken a serious view and lodged a protest with the Union Home Ministry.
"The state government has taken up the matter with the Union Home Ministry and lodged a protest and demanded stern exemplary action against the delinquent officers," the spokesman said.
The official spokesman said NHPC should have sought the assistance of the local law and order machinery rather than dealing with the protests on its own.
He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has deputed his senior cabinet colleague and local MLA Taj Mohiuddin, Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani and DGP Kuldeep Khoda to the spot.
The spokesman said the CISF whose troops opened the fire were not a part of the Counter Insurgency grid operating in J&K.
"They have been hired by the NHPC exclusively for the security of their installations across the state and are not under the operational command of either the Unified Headquarters or the state government," he added.