Had no option but to open fire: CRPF on Sopore killing

The Central Reserve Police Force on Monday said it was forced to open fire at a mob in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed one life, as the protestors had attacked the force's post outside Sopore town.

The CRPF said it had no option but to open fire to secure the post, where local police had taken shelter, from the stone-pelting mob.

The paramilitary force in a statement said that at 12:30 pm, a mob of about 700 attacked a CRPF company location at Kapra theatre located outside Sopore town on Kupwara road.

"The post had only the minimal strength of men for attending to camp security as the other men were away on duty. The J&K police had deployed a section of unarmed men for law and order duty at the naka (cordon), outside the company location.

Their task was to prevent the mob from entering into the town, as part of the call for 'Sopore Chalo'.

"The mob attacked the J and K policemen by pelting stones. When the situation became bad, these men rushed inside the CRPF camp to take shelter. The mob pushed on, attacked the CRPF post and forcibly tried to enter the CRPF post location by scaling the compound wall," the CRPF said.

It said that at this juncture, sensing imminent threat of being run over, the sentry of CRPF, at the 'morcha' inside the post, was compelled to open fire.

"Later, it was learnt that the bullet hit a person in the riotous mob and that he subsequently died in the hospital. He has been identified as Tajmul Islam.

"This was a clear case of attempt to attack the post of security force, which was foiled by timely intervention of the sentry on duty. In fact, the sentry had no option but to fire, to prevent the post being overrun," the statement said.