Abu Tira forces allegedly kill student

Members of the Central Reserve Forces (known as Abu Tira) shot dead a basic school student at Zam Zam camp, North Darfur, on Thursday night, 13 December, sources told Radio Dabanga. The student Mubarak Ibrahim Ahmed Bakhat was killed on the spot, while six of his classmates that were him with at the time of the attack were not harmed, an activist recounted. He said the incident took place at the Haai Muhajiriya district. According to the activist, pupils from the camp tend to study in groups because of a shortage of the books. He explained that Abu Tira forces came across such a group and opened “indiscriminate fire” on the children, who were studying for the basic school certification exam. The incident sparked angry reactions among the camp’s population, the activist told Radio Dabanga. He stressed that the killings and targeting of Darfuri students has moved from universities to the camps, in a development he called “dangerous”. Lastly, the activist asserted that all perpetrators must be brought to justice, including those who killed the student. He pointed out that Abu Tira forces and pro-government militias are abundant at the camp.    Arrested Residents who were mourning the student’s death at the Haai Muhajiriya have reportedly managed to arrest one of the Abu Tira elements who killed the student. They recounted that the ammunition of his Kalashnikov ran out as he was firing shots in the air, and this is when they managed to catch him. Two of his colleagues managed to escape to an unknown destination, sources added. The perpetrator was brought to the police station and charges were pressed against him, a citizen informed Radio Dabanga.Radio Dabanga file photoSee also: Displaced present demands to UNHCR (13 December 2012)