Newskarnataka – Bangalore
Bangalore: The initial investigation into the Shringeri shoot-out incident wherein the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) personnel shot dead a cattle trader suspecting him to be a Naxalite on April 19, has stated that he was shot at while trying to flee.
The early reports portrayed that the firing by the ANF was done on the chest at point blank range but now, it is learnt any foul play in the incident has been ruled out.
The constable Naveen G Naik, a 2012 President’s gallantry medal winner for a Naxal encounter, fired at the cattle traders suspecting they were naxals. Naik was well trained in operation of AK 47 rifle, fired 10 rounds from his AK 47 of which three hit Kabeer.
A report submitted by the police to the Karnataka government said that on April 19 around 3.30 am, three persons including Mohammed Kabeer were coming in a pickup truck transporting cattle.
The ANF team asked them to stop from a distance to check what exactly they were transporting. The vehicle suddenly stopped after making an attempt to turn back.
The CID is probing the case in detail.Sources said three occupants jumped from the truck and reportedly started running. Suspecting them to be Naxals, ANF constable Naik first fired in the air. Even then the occupants continued running after which Naik shot down Kabeer while the rest ran away.
According to the probe, there may be an instance wherein AK 47 was in semi automatic mode and there was a possibility of bullets being fired in a single trigger. The three bullets which hit Kabeer, one was from back side of the arm and the other two from the back. As the two bullets which hit him in the back exit from the chest there was a hole in the chest. Sources said it was not close range fire as earlier alleged, but there was a certain distance between Naik and Kabeer.
As Tanikodu forest checkpost was twice attacked by Naxals in 2006 and 2013, the ANF had special instructions to conduct routine patrol in the area and assist the forest guards.
On April 19, the ANF team patrolling the areas was headed by an inspector. Following a complaint filed by Umar Farooq, who was also in the truck with Kabeer, police had arrested Naik.
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