Srinagar:
After revelations that the man responsible for the killing of 16-year-old Zahid Farooq in Srinagar was not the constable arrested for the crime but his commanding officer R K Birdi, the BSF has now taken action. The officer has been suspended.
Sources have told NDTV that Commandant Birdi has been suspended for not reporting facts and for lack of command over his troops.
Birdi's suspension doesn't implicate or exonerate him in the incident and he is not suspended over allegations of killing the Kashmir teenager, added the sources.
The Commandant, who is being probed, has admitted in his statement that the jawan fired but he has told his superiors that he neither gave orders nor fired himself.
The BSF has denied a cover-up and says a court of inquiry is looking into several aspects.
Sources had earlier told NDTV that constable Lakhvinder Singh, who confessed to shooting Zahid, was forced by Birdi to fire. (Read & Watch: BSF officer behind J&K teen's murder: Sources)
Sources also said that R K Birdi, the Commanding Officer of the 68th BSF Battalion, snatched constable Kumar's rifle, cocked it and physically forced him to fire on the teenager.
NDTV has also learnt that 12 BSF personnel who were interrogated by the state police told investigators that constable Lakhvinder Singh was forced to fire thrice at the boy. (Read: BSF admits to Kashmir teenager's murder)
The new revelations seem to confirm what the victim's family had alleged all along...that the constable is being made a scapegoat and the real killer got away.
Zahid and his friends were on their way home after their cricket game in Srinagar's Nishat area was rained out. They came across three BSF vehicles and began shouting at it. Incensed, constable Lakhvinder Kumar allegedly got out and shot Zahid at point blank range.
Sources have told NDTV that Commandant Birdi has been suspended for not reporting facts and for lack of command over his troops.
Birdi's suspension doesn't implicate or exonerate him in the incident and he is not suspended over allegations of killing the Kashmir teenager, added the sources.
The Commandant, who is being probed, has admitted in his statement that the jawan fired but he has told his superiors that he neither gave orders nor fired himself.
The BSF has denied a cover-up and says a court of inquiry is looking into several aspects.
Sources had earlier told NDTV that constable Lakhvinder Singh, who confessed to shooting Zahid, was forced by Birdi to fire. (Read & Watch: BSF officer behind J&K teen's murder: Sources)
Sources also said that R K Birdi, the Commanding Officer of the 68th BSF Battalion, snatched constable Kumar's rifle, cocked it and physically forced him to fire on the teenager.
NDTV has also learnt that 12 BSF personnel who were interrogated by the state police told investigators that constable Lakhvinder Singh was forced to fire thrice at the boy. (Read: BSF admits to Kashmir teenager's murder)
The new revelations seem to confirm what the victim's family had alleged all along...that the constable is being made a scapegoat and the real killer got away.
Zahid and his friends were on their way home after their cricket game in Srinagar's Nishat area was rained out. They came across three BSF vehicles and began shouting at it. Incensed, constable Lakhvinder Kumar allegedly got out and shot Zahid at point blank range.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
