CRPF jawan suspended for beating photo-journalist in Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 29 (UNI) A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel was suspended for ''mercilessly'' beating up a photo-journalist during protests in a downtown locality of Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital today.

CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Tripathi said Ram Niwas, a constable with the Force's 96 battalion, was placed under suspension for beating up AFP photographer Sajjad Hussain during protests at Jamia Masjid after Friday prayers.

Mr Hussain had sustained severe head injuries and was rushed to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura here where the doctors had declared his condition as critical.

Protests were held across the Kashmir valley today over a Delhi court order to hang till death Mohammad Afzal Guru, who was convicted in the December 13, 2001 parliament attack case, in Tihar jail on October 20.

Mr Tripathi said CRPF Inspector General A P Maheshwari after seeing the video clippings of the incident immediately placed the jawan under suspension.

Strong action would be taken against the platoon commander for his failure to control the personnel during protests, he added.

Mr Maheshwari also visited Mr Hussain at SKIMS and expressed his regret over the incident, the spokesman said.

In another incident, Tribune photographer Amin War also sustained head injuries during protests at Maisuma here.

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