Srinagar, Oct 22: The Member of Legislative Assembly Langate, Er Rashid on Thursday alleged that police wanted to inflict civilian causalities by placing a grenade along with a body of an elderly man killed in Handwara last week, a charge denied by police.  
Addressing a news conference here, Rashid said the “device was placed inside the pocket of Mukthar Ahmed Sheikh, 65, (killed in troops firing at Watsar Bawan last week) to kill people.”
“How come it is possible that the grenade will be placed under watchful gaze of policemen without their involvement? This was a plan of some black sheep in the department to cause civilian casualties and then blame militants.  Had their plan worked they would have then accused militants of attacking the funeral in which MLA was participating. Police knew that I will receive the body at Thokerpora,” he said, while demanding a probe into the matter.
“They have only suspended the Assistant Sub Inspector of Police so far. The small officer has been made scapegoat whereas real culprits are roaming free. Their action is mere eyewash. It is amazing that minors here are booked for stone pelting under PSA. Is minor stonepelter a terrorist or a police officer that places grenade in  the pocket?” Rashid asked.
Demanding punishment to police and CRPF troopers’ involved in killings of youth, he said that no action was initiated against the guilty personnel.
“On one hand Law Minister  on floor of house said that four policemen have been indicted in Islamabad killings, while on other hand police says there is less evidence against them. The killers of Omar Qayoom of Soura too are roaming free,” he said.
Accusing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of misgovernance, he said, “First SHO Handwara thrashed me, then MLA Zadibal was beaten up. JK has become a police state and SHO is more powerful than  a MLA. I think SHO and DSPs have been given powers to beat MLAs and ministers respectively,” he added.

POLICE SPEAKS
When contacted, Superintendent of Police Handwara Rafiq Ahmed Vakil denied the allegations.
“Basically first he sent his close aide to set up things there, but family gave him a cold response. When he came to know about recovery of the grenade after one hour he went there and instigated family but they did not fall in his trap,” he said.
“He always blows things out of proportion. It was simple grenade not any time bomb. We ourselves admitted in media that it was negligence on part of ASI who did not search the body properly. We will take action against him if he is indicted by inquiry ordered by us,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST