Youth Allegedly Killed By Pellet Gun Fired At Point-Blank Range Near Kashmir Hospital

21-year-old Riyaz Ahmad Shah was allegedly killed in Srinagar after being shot with pellets from a point blank range near SMHS hospital late on Tuesday night. Locals have accused CRPF personnel of killing him on his way to his place of work. Shah worked as an ATM supervisor in the old city.

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After autopsy police has filed a case under 302 RPC against the security personnel. Shah's relatives said that he had left his home at around 10 pm on his scooty as he was scheduled to check ATMs.

His body was found with a big wound on the abdomen around midnight near SMHS hospital.

Initially, the police had said that his death was caused by some sharp edged weapon. However, protests broke out in his locality – Chattabal and people blamed CRPF for the killing Shah in cold blood while he was inspecting the ATMs.

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Locals alleged that Shah was fired with pellets by the CRPF jawans from a very close range that caused his death and also left unattended on the roadside.

Shah’s body was laying on the road along with his scooty for more than an hour after the incident happened.

After recovering the body, police carried out autopsy which revealed that Shah had multiple pellet injuries and his death was caused due to dozens of pellets that hit him.

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CRPF spokesman, however, feigned ignorance about Shah’s killing. With this, the death toll has reached a total of 51, all of them civilians. Shah’s body has not been handed over to his family members as the officials fear massive protests may break out in the old city.