Shopian case: Recording of witnesses' statement deferred

Srinagar: The inquiry officer, probing into the killing of five persons allegedly by CRPF in Shopian earlier this month, on Friday extended the recording of statements of witnesses by one 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 one week upto September 28 in view of the prevailing law and order situation in the town, an official spokesman said. [caption id=“attachment_1123391” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] AFP[/caption] Four people were killed by CRPF outside their camp at Gagran on 7 September allegedly in retaliation to a militant attack, while another person was shot dead by the troops on 11 September during a protest demonstration in support of the demand for removal of the camp and arrest of the CRPF personnel involved in the killings. Barring 11 September, curfew has been in force in the town, 52 km from Srinagar, to maintain law and order. The state government on 12 September ordered a magisterial inquiry into the firing incidents and appointed Bhat as the inquiry officer. The inquiry officer issued a notice calling upon witnesses to depose before him in connection with the killings from 16 September to 21 September. However, nobody has come forward to depose before the inquiry officer. PTI