SRINAGAR, 2 March 2006 — The Indian Kashmir government yesterday announced a judicial probe into the death of four boys aged between 10 and 18 in an incident a week ago that involved the security forces.

The move was seen as a bid by the government to cool tempers and to present a picture of action against human rights violations, especially during the visit of US President George W. Bush, who arrived in India yesterday.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced the probe in the assembly after a two-hour debate on human rights.

Officials said the state government did not want the human rights issue to flare up during Bush’s visit to India and Pakistan, for that could adversely affect the image of the central government and its human rights record in Jammu and Kashmir.

Winding up the discussion in the assembly, Azad said he had told Deputy Chief Minister Muzzaffar Hussain Baig to find ways of announcing a judicial probe into the tragic episode.

Earlier, the government had announced a magisterial probe. But with the announcement of a judicial probe, the magisterial probe will automatically end.

The death of the four boys at Chak Dudhipora village near Handwara town in Kupwara district Feb 22 had triggered widespread protests in the Kashmir Valley, with rights groups seeking action against the security forces.

Protesters led by separatist leaders had blamed troops, which had visited Chak Dudhipora on the day for an anti-insurgency operation, for the deaths.

The Indian Army, however, had maintained that the four boys died when they were caught in crossfire between soldiers and guerrillas, and denied that its troops were in any way responsible for the deaths.

Meanwhile, suspected rebels shot dead two counter-insurgency policemen yesterday and two other people the previous day in Kashmir, police said.

The shooting came as police and paramilitary forces stepped up security ahead of Bush visit.

The two policemen were killed in a busy market in Sopore town, 50 km north of Srinagar.

Suspected militants also beheaded an alleged informer and shot dead a government employee in the southern districts of Doda and Anantnag late Tuesday, police said.

Authorities have stepped up security in the Himalayan region, where tens of thousands have died in insurgency-related violence.

In Srinagar where security is normally tight anyway, police have stepped up vigilance, setting up additional vehicle checkpoints.

On Sunday rebels exploded a car bomb, injuring seven soldiers and a civilian driver in the city.

Police have also stepped up security around minority Sikh and Hindu villages in Kashmir Valley. — Additional input from agencies.