J and K Government withdraws CRPF from Baramullah(Lead:Baramullah)

Srinagar, July 1 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to withdraw the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from law and order duties in Baramullah district, following protests by local residents over the deaths of some of them.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in a late night development, asked the Jammu and Kashmir Reserve Police to replace the CRPF.

The alleged harassment of a Muslim woman by CRPF personnel and the deaths of four protestors is believed to have prompted the decision.

According to state police officials, a case has been registered against a CRPF personnel and officers have been asked to hand him over to the State police for custodial investigation.

The State Government has initiated a magisterial enquiry into the incident.

Twent four-year old Amir, one of the protestors received a bullet injury allegedly when security forces opened fire on a mob in the Khanpora locality on Tuesday evening. Amir died at the Soura Medical Institute here early Wednesday.

On Wednesday, thousands of protesters took to streets in defiance of a curfew imposed in Baramullah.

Protestors chanted anti-India slogans in anger against the recent incidents involving local residents. Police tried to disperse the mob, but failed.

They carried the body of a young dead protester.

The recent unrest began Monday when thousands protested in Baramulla town against the alleged harassment of a Muslim woman by police.

In a bid to maintain law and order and quell the protestors, police resorted to firing live rounds, which killed two of the demonstrators.

The firing incident provoked many more local people onto the streets and the unrest spread to the neighbouring town of Sopore, prompting the district authorities to impose curfew in both towns.

On Tuesday a third protester was killed, and the latest victim died from his injuries on Wednesday.

The situation in the Baramullah town is reported to be quite tense.

"Police have registered a case of murder against the CRPF trooper. Officers of the CRPF unit have been asked to hand him over to the police," said a police officer.

In the wake of this incident, the state government late Tuesday decided to withdraw the CRPF from law and order duties in Baramulla town.

A police officer said that the CRPF had been withdrawn from the town and being replaced by the local armed police.

As per officials, the government has already ordered a magisterial probe into the firing incident. The investigations is likely to completed within 10 days. (ANI)