13 CRPF personnel punished for leaving camp in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 26: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) authorities in the Kashmir valley punished 13 jawans for leaving their camp without permission, official sources said.

They said two havaldars, nine jawans and two helpers were disarmed after they were found guilty of violating security norms.Sources said the jawans had approached their commandant on Eid-ul-Zuha day to perform prayers in a mosque outside their camp. However, despite being denied permission for security reasons, the jawans left the camp and returned only after a few hours.

An inquiry was ordered and they were held guilty of violating the security norms, sources said adding they were later punished and disarmed for five days. A CRPF spokesman, who confirmed the incident, said there was a big mosque inside the camp at Rambagh where other Muslim jawans and officers said Eid prayers.

He said the jawans were directed to deposit their weapons which would be returned to them after serving the punishment period.

The spokesman however denied that the jawans were suspended and fined Rs 2000 each. There is no such punishment in the force, he said.

He said the jawans were denied permission to perform the prayers outside for security reasons.

UNI