A civilian driving a private car was shot dead by the CRPF after he allegedly jumped two security checkpoints on the Srinagar-Gulmarg highway in Budgam district.

The killing sparked fresh tension in central Kashmir and the authorities snapped the mobile Internet in Budgam to prevent protests.

The incident took place at around 10.20 am in Narbal Kawoosa, when Mehraj-ud-Din, 25, a resident of Beerwah Budgam, was going to drop his uncle, a police officer, to his workplace in a car.

A CRPF spokesman, Pankaj Singh, said the car (Wagon R) jumped two security checkpoints. “A convoy of the Army, at that point of time, was passing through the adjacent road and fearing sabotage, the CRPF jawan, manning the naka, fired warning shots. The private car was being driven on the wrong side of the road and that was even more alarming. When the car didn’t stop, despite warning shots, the jawan fired at the car and in turn, the driver was hit,” CRPF spokesman Pankaj Singh said. “Subsequently, he was shifted to SHMS Hospital, Srinagar, where, he was declared as brought dead by doctors,” he said.

The SMHS Hospital authorities said the youth was hit by the bullet in his chest. As the news about the death of the youth reached his native village, protests erupted in the area.

Former CM and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah demanded an impartial investigation in the killing. “…The circumstances surrounding this shooting need to be impartially investigated & findings made known..” Omar tweeted.

Ghulam Hassan, an ASI in the J&K Police, who was inside the car, contested the CRPF and police version and said his nephew was killed in cold blood.