Omar Abdullah seeks Centre's help in nabbing boy's killers

The issue of killing of a 16-year-old boy in Kashmir allegedly by security forces was today raised by Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah who sought the Centre's help in identifying the culprits.

Omar was speaking at the conference of chief ministers on internal security, chaired by prime minister Manmohan Singh.

"I appeal to the Centre to help the state government in identifying the culprits of the February 5 killing and let the law deal with them," Omar said.

16-year-old Zahid Farooq Shah was shot dead on February 5 at Nishat and eyewitnesses told the police that the vehicle of the security forces had an insignia of "hangul" (red deer).

The mark is used on the vehicles of BSF and the paramilitary
force has a battalion headquarter nearby.
    
The state government has already ordered a probe into the
incident and assured stern action against the guilty.

Ahead of the meeting, Union home minister P Chidambaram had a detailed discussion with Omar, and according to official
sources, he assured the junior Abdullah that the Centre will
help in identifying the culprits.

In a related development, police in Kashmir has asked the BSF to provide the log details of the vehicle movements in and out of the battalion headquarter located near Nishat, the place where the incident took place.