The J&K police on Thursday arrested the commanding officer of the Border Security Force (BSF), Randhir Kumar Birdi, for his alleged involvement in the killing of a school boy, Zahid Farooq, on the outskirts of Srinagar last month after his cavalcade was jeered by a small group of boys. The commandant has been charged by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of J&K police with murder, abetment of crime and destruction of evidence.
Ever since the separatist militancy began in Kashmir, this is for the first time that the government has taken strict action against a security force officer of the rank of commandant who has not only been booked but arrested on murder charges.
By all accounts, the swift movement in this particular case became possible only after the personal intervention of Union home minister P Chidambaram. As the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Disturbed Area Act are in operation across the state, prosecution, especially in connection with alleged human rights violations by members of central security forces, begins only after permission from the home ministry or the defence ministry.
According to official records, 458 cases involving officials of the BSF, CRPF and the Army are pending with the ministry of home affairs and defence after the J&K government sought permission for prosecution.
Whether the home ministry will allow the prosecution of commandant Birdi, constable Lakhwinder Kumar and other BSF men allegedly involved in the murder of 16-year-old Zahid Farooq will, however, be clear only once the J&K police?s SIT completes its investigation and files the chargesheet. As per the AFSPA, the BSF can seek trial of the officer through its own court.
The state police had earlier arrested a constable of 68 battalion of BSF, Lakhwinder Kumar, on February 10 after an internal inquiry by the BSF found him to be involved in the killing of the teenager that sparked massive protests across Kashmir. Birdi?s name cropped up after constable Kumar told the SIT, headed by senior superintendent of police, Srinagar, Javid Riyaz, that he was asked by the CO to open fire on the boy.
The SIT report submitted to the court revealed that commandant Birdi instigated Kumar to fire two rounds from his service rifle, one of which hit Zahid Farooq.
Meanwhile, Birdi has been sent to police custody for two days by a local court. Earlier, his anticipatory bail application was dismissed by the court on the ground that as he has been already arrested, the application for anticipatory bail is rendered infructuous.
