Indian border security guard admits killing school boy

India' s paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) in India-controlled Kashmir Wednesday said one of its troopers was found involved in the killing of a 16-year-old youth last week in Srinagar.

The admission was made by the BSF Special Director General P. P. S. Sidhu during a press briefing in Srinagar.

"The prima facie evidence has revealed the possibility of involvement of Constable Lakhwinder Kumar of 68 battalion of BSF, in the shootout that resulted in the death of Zahid Farooq Sheikh of Nishat. As a consequence he has been handed over to the local police for further investigations," Singh said.

However, Sidhu evaded as to why the paramilitary trooper fired on the youth.

"I can't say. It is a matter of investigation. The Jammu and Kashmir Police will do the investigation which will reveal everything," Singh said.

Zahid Farooq, a class 10 student of Srinagar was killed Friday after being hit by a bullet in chest.

Locals alleged paramilitary troopers fired upon the youth without any provocation.

According to locals Zahid along with his friends was sitting in a playground, when a paramilitary vehicle stopped near the ground and men came down running towards them hurling abuses and firing indiscriminately, without any provocation late afternoon.

Following the killing of youth, hundreds of people poured into roads and started protesting against the killing. The protesters were raising pro-freedom and anti-Indian and anti-government slogans.

The region's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also ordered a probe into the death of the teenager and asked the top civil official to head the investigations.

The killing of Farooq raises the toll of the civilian killings from January this year to five.

Source: Xinhua