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Top Anantnag district officials transferred

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

A day after seven protestors were killed in police firing at Barakpora in Anantnag district, the Jammu and Kashmir government today transferred almost all top district officials and some zonal heads.

Seven people were killed and over 15 others injured when police opened fire at a protest rally yesterday.

The protestors were demanding that the government come out with the truth about a police encounter recently in which five militants, allegedly involved in the Chatti Singhpora massacre, were killed. Residents have maintained that the five were innocent civilians.

Those tranferred today included the South Kashmir deputy inspector general, the Anantnag district police chief and the district magistrate.

All policemen attached to the Barakpora camp have also been put under suspension and a departmental inquiry has been initiated against them.

Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today admitted that the "incident could have been prevented and that there was no real evidence of firing from the procession."

Javed Ahmad Makhdoomi has been appointed the DIG, south Kashmir and Muneer Ahmad Khan is taking over as the Anantnag police chief.

Asghar Ali Samoon, who is currently the administrator at the Srinagar Muncipal Corporation, has been appointed as the new deputy commissioner of the district.

The chief minister today visited the site of the firing. He was accompanied by Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitley and Director General of Police Gurbachan Jagat.

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