Shopian: Labourer Killed by CRPF Jawans, Family Says ‘Shot in Cold Blood’

A day after the Union home minister Amit Shah reviewed the security situation in Kashmir, a 20-year-old civilian was shot dead under suspicious circumstances on Sunday morning near a CRPF camp in Shopian district. A senior police officer identified the deceased as Shahid Ahmad Rather, a resident of the Arwani area in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district….

Zubair Ahmad Rather, his younger brother, told The Wire that the victim was returning home on Sunday morning along with two friends when the incident happened. “He was walking few metres ahead of them when the CRPF troopers fired at him near Zainapora.” “It is a targeted killing,” Zubair continued, struggling to hold back his tears. “They shot him in cold blood. There was no cross firing in the area. If it has happened with us, it can happen to anyone. They are killing innocent people and branding them as militants. We want justice.”…

Kashmir has recorded a spike in insurgency-related violence this year, leaving close to three dozen civilians dead, including political workers. Over the last two weeks, at least 10 civilians – mostly migrant workers and members of Kashmir’s minority communities, have been killed in suspected militant attacks. Most of these attacks took place in Srinagar, which was declared militancy free just a year ago….

https://thewire.in/rights/shopian-labourer-killed-crpf-jawans