Srinagar, Jan 26: Family members of a teenage boy, Zahid Farooq killed allegedly by paramilitary BSF men in 2010, on Saturday said that BSF has summoned them and other witnesses in the case for “recording their statements” on different dates in General Security Force Court (GSFC).
 The family members of Zahid described the latest BSF diktat as a “tactic to harass” them.
 “Where as a General Security Force Court (GSFC) was constituted against IRLA No. 18736557 Randhir Kumar Birdi commandant and No. 01005455 constable Lakhwinder Kumar in the case FIR No. 4 of 2010 at Police Station Nishat district Srinagar and is in progress at Headquarters Srinagar sector BSF Pantha Chowk Srinagar with effect from 30 October 2012 onwards, you are hereby summoned under section 89 of BSF Act to appear before said GSFC,” reads the summon which has been sent to family and witnesses.
 The BSF has asked them to appear separately before their court on 15 separate dates. “The witnesses include our neighbors and relatives and each one of us has been summoned on separate dates,” family members said.
 “If you fail to comply with this order without lawful excuse, you will be subject to the consequence of non-attendance,” they added.
 Pertinently, the case is listed for final hearing in the Supreme Court on January 29, 2013.  Zahid was killed when he was hit by a bullet allegedly fired by BSF personnel on his back on February 5, 2010. Zahid, along with his friends, was returning home from a cricket ground.
 The forensic tests had confirmed that the bullet which led to death of the Zahid was fired from the gun of a BSF man Lakhvinder Kumar who was later arrested.
 Zahid’s killing had evoked widespread protests across the Valley. It was followed by killing of another teenage boy Wamiq Farooq of Rainawari here in police firing. The killings led to the 2010 unrest in which more than 120 youth lost their life to the firing by police and paramilitary.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST