Shopian case: Recording of statements deferred by another week

Srinagar, Sept 29: The inquiry officer, probing into the killing of five persons allegedly by CRPF in Shopian earlier this month, has extended the recording of statements of witnesses by another week.

District Magistrate, Shopian, Bashir Ahmad Bhat has extended the time period for recording of statements or sharing of information by the general public by a week upto October 5, an official spokesman said today.

He said the interested persons can visit the office of the district magistrate between 11 AM to 3 PM upto the extended date.

Four persons were killed by CRPF outside their camp at Gagran on September 7 allegedly in retaliation to a militant attack, while another person was shot dead by the troops on September 11 during a protest demonstration in support of the demand for removal of the camp and arrest of the CRPF personnel involved in the killings.

The state government on September 12 ordered a magisterial inquiry into the firing incidents and appointed Bhat as the inquiry officer.

The officer first issued a notice calling upon witnesses to depose before him in connection with the killings from September 16 to September 21.

However, nobody came forward to depose before the inquiry officer. The date was then extended by one week upto September 28.

PTI