Man killed in firing along Samba IB

Jammu, June 8: Seemingly in a case of mistaken identity, a man was killed when the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel opened fire after noticing some suspicious movement near Regal Post along the International Border (IB) in Samba district on Friday night.

The officials said that the deceased, identified as Vasudev, 28, a resident of Akhnoor, was working with a private company, engaged in construction work along the border.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, the civil administration and private company have granted the aggrieved family an ex-gratia relief while police too have offered the job of an SPO to the NoK of the deceased.

Giving a brief account of the incident, ASP Surinder Chowdhary, while speaking to the media, said, “An untoward incident occurred on Friday night. There is a Regal post on the border. Border Security Force (BSF) personnel observed some suspicious movement along this post late Friday night. As you all know, any suspicious movement along the border is taken very seriously. As per preliminary investigation conducted by BSF authorities, the Force personnel deployed on the post challenged the person.”

“After being challenged, this person (deceased), probably out of panic or fear, would have tried to run away. Out of suspicion, they (BSF personnel) opened fire upon him. He sustained injuries in the firing. He was taken to hospital. Police have taken cognizance of the matter. Post-mortem of the body too has been conducted. Family members have also reached here. After completing medico-legal formalities, the body has been handed over to the family. Further investigation is underway,” ASP said.

Samba hospital authorities informed that the man with gun-shot injury in his chest was brought there (hospital) around 11 pm on Friday. “He was given first-aid and resuscitation was also done. All doctors present in the emergency did everything possible to save him. But unfortunately, the patient had reached here in critical condition. We did our best but his vital organs had already stopped functioning. He was actually brought dead,” they added.

“In case of this incident, the family has been compensated on behalf of the company, civil administration and the police. Besides the Labour Commission, which deals with such matters, too has been apprised about it. They will assess the exact amount of compensation to be granted to the aggrieved family. For the time being, Rs 4 lakh on the part of the company; Rs one lakh on the part of civil administration and the post of an SPO by the police have been offered to the family,” a senior official representing civil administration in Samba said, while responding to media queries.

“This is a matter of investigation. Police will investigate it and then accordingly it will be shared with the media,” the official said, when asked about the circumstances behind the firing incident.