Security Guard shot dead man after he “crossed” air field fence in Budgam

Budgam: A security guard shot dead an elderly man when he allegedly entered Budgam Airfield here in Central Kashmir on Sunday night. Police claimed that the slain civilian was a mentally challenged person but the residents of Soibugh observed a shutdown against the killing in the area . Thousands of people attended the funeral prayers of the civilian and clashes also broke out between the angry protesters and the government forces in the area.
Police in this regard issued a statement which read: “At airforce station Budgam around midnight one yet to be identified individual entered the security zone area. He crossed the security fence and came close to the station perimeter wall. Despite repeated warning from the sentry the individual did not stop. The sentry fired some warning shots in air but the individual did not stop. The sentry fired towards him.”
“Later on Station authorities informed the Police post Humhama. The SHO and DO rushed to the scene of occurrence.”
“Spot examination revealed that the individual of about 50-55 years of age who appears to be mentally challenged has died in the incident. The person being identified is not wearing foot wears, is without proper winter clothing and has no identity card. Pertinently there is no habitation near the place of incident.”
“Local police has taken body in custody and is in the process of ascertaining the identity of the individual. Help of nearby villages has been sought for identification of the individual.” “Case has been registered and investigation started.”
The deceased was later on identified as Syed Habibullah, a resident of Soibugh Budgam where all the shops and business establishments remained shut against the killing. Transport also remained off in the area.
Thousands of people on Monday participated in the last rites of an elderly man shot dead by forces near Air Force Station at his native village Soibugh in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
An eye witness said that thousands of people attended the funeral prayers of the deceased, Syed Habibullah, who according to police was shot dead after he “entered the security zone area at Air Force Station Budgam around midnight.”
“He crossed the security fence and came close to the station perimeter wall. Despite repeated warning from the sentry the individual did not stop. The sentry fired some warning shots in air but the individual did not stop. The sentry fired towards him,” said a police spokesman in a statement.
A local said that massive pro-freedom slogans were raised during the funeral of the deceased, who was a father of six. Soon after his last rites, youth hurled rocks at the army camp located in the adjacent Daharmuna village. Earlier, shopkeepers lowered their shutters and traffic went off the roads in Soibugh after the news of his killing spread in the area.