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Srinagar, January 31 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, the Indian Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has invoked the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) to get the bail of its five personnel arrested for the killing of a youth, Altaf Ahmed Sood, in Boniyar on January 2, this year.

The arrested CISF personnel have submitted an application filed through standing counsel of Government of India, Karnail Singh Wazair, before the District and Sessions Judge Baramulla, praying for bail. The counsel argued, “In 1990 Kashmir was declared as a disturbed area and armed forces were given special powers to assist the civil administration.”

Talking to media persons over phone, the counsel said that CISF enjoyed protection under AFSPA as well as by notification of 2011. “Even the area where the incident took place is a banned area,” he said.

It is to mention here that the puppet Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, had tweeted on micro-blogging website Twitter that Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was not applicable to Central Industrial Security Force.

Altaf Ahmad Sood, a 12th class student, was shot dead by CISF men in Boniyar area of Uri in Baramulla district when people of the area were protesting against the anti-people policies of the occupation authorities.