Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 21: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah, vice president Omar Abdullah and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti besides many other leaders have expressed shock and deep anguish over the killing of six civilians in a gun-battle at Laroo in Kulgam.
Terming the killings as highly unfortunate, Farooq said that there is an immediate need to put an end to civilian killings. “It is heart- rending to learn about such incidents which have become norm of the day. The situation calls for immediate de-escalation from all sides,” he said.
Expressing heartfelt condolences with the bereaved families, Dr Farooq Abdullah prayed for peace to the departed souls.
Omar Abdullah while expressing anguish over the killings said that little good can our words do to those who lost their loved ones. “I pray for peace to the souls of those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery for all the injured. I pray to Almighty to give courage to the families of victims to bear the loss.”
He said that six civilian casualties in Kulgam don’t augment well for peace to return back to our state. “A whole new generation is growing in conflict and what needs to be done is to start time bound and result oriented dialogue process.”
Party general secretary Ali Mohd Sagar, Provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, senior leaders Sakina Itoo, GA Shah, Dr Bashir Veeri, Majeed Bhat, Altaf Kaloo, Syed Shafi, Imran Nabi Dar also condemned the killing of six civilians and prayed for peace to departed souls.
The leaders demanded a high level probe to ascertain the details of civilian killings and demanded exemplary punishment to those found guilty.
PDP president and former Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has also expressed profound grief and shock over the death of six civilians and injuries to scores others at an encounter site in Kulgam today.
In a statement, the PDP president appealed the Governor, S P Malik to ensure that all Standard Operating Procedures are strictly adhered to while dealing with the security situations and all the security agencies are advised to take precautions to avoid any collateral damage.
She said that she was extremely saddened by the news of Kulgam incident, where civilians were once again caught in the cross fire of violence, thus adding fuel to the already volatile situation. All words of condemnation, condolence sound very hollow at this tragedy.
Conveying her heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families, the PDP chief has sought release of ex-gratia and other assistance in the favour of deceased civilians and aid to the injured.
While expressing pain and sorrow over the killing of innocent civilians in an explosion at encounter site in Laroo village of Kulgam, CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam, Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami said the killings have become everyday norm in Kashmir now.
On Friday, a pregnant lady was killed in Pulwama district and today a number of civilians lost their lives in Kulgam and several others are injured. It is really so painful to see such killings happening everyday in Kashmir. But unfortunately, New Delhi is watching all this like a mute spectator and seems in no mood to address the issues politically. There is a deep sense of alienation among Kashmiris, especially youth. It is this deepening alienation and anger which is driving young and old towards the deadly encounter sites.
Tarigami said the youngsters have been pushed to the wall due to the gross mishandling of Kashmir by BJP regime in Delhi. Unfortunately political leadership seems to be reluctant to draw any lesson from the past blunders. Given the rising toll of casualties and no visible efforts by New Delhi to hold meaningful dialogue, there is apprehension that the situation may get more complex. Besides, persistent arrogance and repression is bound to aggravate the situation further.
While expressing solidarity with the bereaved families, he demanded an immediate end to the civilian killings in the Valley and magisterial enquiry into today’s unfortunate and painful incident.
While strongly condemning the killing of five civilians and injury to dozens others in Kulgam, PCC vice president Ghulam Nabi Monga today said that Government’s policies towards Kashmir are responsible for such killings in Kashmir. He said it is painful to see innocent civilians being killed in Kashmir. He said Centre was responsible for such acts and it should change its policy towards Kashmir.
The Executive Committee of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed it’s shock and concern at the sharp increase in the use of brutal force against the unarmed civilians of Kashmir. The killings of six innocent people and brutalization of unarmed civilians at Larnoo, Kulgam calls for the condemnation in the strongest possible terms and the business community of Kashmir once again urge the Government to restrain from launching operations in civilian areas which invariably trigger more killings and worsening of the law and order situation.
Jammu Muslim Front has also condemned the killings in Kulgam and demanded a high level inquiry into the matter. Shuja Zaffar, chairman of the JMC urged upon the Governor to act strongly and call emergency meeting of the heads of security agencies concerned.
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