Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 11: Several civil society, trade and tour organizations today staged separate protests against killing of seven Amarnath pilgrims in a militant strike at Anantnag in south Kashmir and sought an impartial probe into the attack. The attack on pilgrims evoked widespread condemnation from all the quarters including separatists and militants.
Members of Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), Centre for Research and Development Policy (CRDP) and Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers (KTMF) assembled at Pratap Park in Lal Chowk here this evening and staged a silent protest against the killings of Amarnath yatris. The protesters were holding banners and placards and termed the killings “unacceptable”.
Khurram Parvez, coordinator of JKCSS, condemned the killings of pilgrims and sought impartial probe by United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) into the attack and alleged that the country’s probe agencies have failed to establish truth into such killings that occurred in past years.
Earlier, trade, tour operators, houseboat owners and hoteliers assembled in press enclave here in city centre and held silent protest against the attack. The members of hospitality sector were holding placards inscribed with slogans like, “we want independent probe on brutal killings” and “we condemn barbaric attack”.
The protesting hospitality sector members said they believe that the yatra is part of Kashmiriat and “we have seen from long in history that Kashmiris are considered most hospitable and we don’t think such gruesome killings can be handiwork of any Kashmiri”.
Demanding an impartial probe into the attack and exposing of killers, the protesters said they strongly condemn the incident that took place yesterday and whosoever is involved in it should be probed independently. “The culprits who carried out the incident should be brought to fore,” they said.
The protesters announced that that tomorrow the travel agencies, hotels and allied agencies are suspending their establishments “as a mark of respect with yatris and also a mark of protest we are closing our establishments tomorrow”.
Members of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) took out a protest rally from their office and condemned the attack on yatris. The KCCI demanded that a judicial probe into the attack by a retired Supreme Court Judge. The protesters marched upto press enclave and were holding placards in condemnation of the attack.
Speaking to reporters, a KCCI member Ibrahim Shadad said: “It is a sad occasion. The news has come to us yesterday evening and we have always welcomed yatris. We Kashmiris have always cooperated with them and Kashmir traders also.”
Meanwhile, separatist leaders including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Yasin Malik as well as United Jihad Council (UJC) strongly condemned the attack on Amarnath yatris and sought an impartial probe into the killings.
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