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SRINAGAR: Although the probe committee set up by the Jammu and Kashmir government is yet to finalise its report, the Central Reserve Police Force, which is facing accusations of killing a youth in Srinagar's Zainakote youth, has given itself clean chit in the case.

Deputy Inspector General of CRPF (North), SK Parth said they have submitted reply to the inquiry committee formed by the state government into killing of the youth, Gowhar Nazir, 21, on November 7 in Srinagar's Zainakote locality, denying the involvement of its forces.

“Our personnel were not present at the site when the youth died. The J&K police was accompanying us. We did not fire any bullet. Although the doctors have said that he was hit by a shell, their report can't be termed conclusive,” Parth told reporters here after attending a felicitation function of CRPF organised by houseboat owners.

The death certificate of Gowhar Nazir, an engineering student at SSM Parihaspora, who was killed on November 7 last year, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi wounded up his visit to Srinagar, states that he died of "shell/bullet" injury.

Talking to The Citizen, Gowhar's father, Nazir Ahmad Dar, said his son was killed by CRPF. "He was killed by a live bullet fired by CRPF which doctors in SKIMS also confirmed to us. He was not killed by any teargas shell as police and CRPF has claimed,” Nazir said.

However, Parth said the CRPF did not fire bullets or teargas to control protesters. "Had we done so, police would have said it or civilians would have seen who fired the bullet. We don’t understand what happened on the spot. We have strict directions not to use bullets while dealing with protesters,” he said.

The CRPF DIG said the nature of injuries suffered by Gowhar were "full of doubts", "We don’t believe he received any firearm injury. Our commandant was leading the CRPF party; JK police’s SHO was there at the spot. Had any such thing happened, we would have known it. We came to know about the incident later,” he said.

Following massive public uproar, the government had ordered a one-man inquiry committee of additional deputy commissioner, Srinagar, NA Baba, to probe the killing which has not yet submitted its findings. Parth said the magisterial inquiry is on-going which will reveal everything. “Whosoever is found guilty will be punished, even if it is any of our personnel,” he said.