Shopian firing: CRPF gets 3 more days to file counter report

The judicial commission appointed by Jammu and Kashmir government to probe the killing of four youths in CRPF firing in Shopian last year has given three days' more time to the force to file their counter report in the case.

Justice (retd) ML Kaul, the head of the commission, yesterday accepted the CRPF plea seeking more time to file their counter report in the case.

"At the request of the Union of India counsel, time was granted and he was asked to file counter on January 18," an official spokesman said.

The commission will hold the next hearing on January 18.

Four persons were killed at Gagran in Shopian district on September 7, 2013, the date on which world-famous orchestra conductor Zubin Maestro performed at the famed Shalimar Gardens here.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had ordered a judicial probe into the killings after the CRPF claim that all the deceased were militants was challenged by the locals.

While police admitted that there was no record of any involvement in militancy for three of the deceased local youths, they maintained that the fourth was a Pakistani militant.

The commission was appointed to probe the circumstances leading to the killing of the four youths and ascertain whether the deceased had been involved in militancy.

The commission has also been asked to fix responsibility for any misuse of authority by the CRPF personnel.