Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 10: The Legislative Assembly today witnessed uproar during the Question Hour over the attack on Kashmiri drivers in Udhampur district last night and the opposition legislators walked out from the Assembly over the issue.
As soon as the House proceedings began this morning, National Conference (NC) legislators created uproar, saying that Kashmiris were being harassed by the right-wing groups in different parts of the country.
NC legislator, Abdul Majeed Larmi, said the Government must answer the House that why Kashmiri drivers were attacked. He demanded that the Government must state what action has been taken against the culprits.
NC general secretary, Ali Mohammad Sagar, said the BJP is repeatedly provoking to vitiate the atmosphere in the State. “BJP is involved in the Udhampur attack on Kashmiris. Do you want to fan the communal tension in the State?”, Sagar asked BJP legislators, who were present in the Assembly.
Horticulture Minister, Abdul Rehman Veeri, while replying on behalf of the Government on the incident said that police have registered a case and three persons- Bala Bahadur, Sunder Singh and Sunil Singh-were arrested. He said the manhunt has been launched to nab other accused.
He said an FIR 368/2015 under Sections 307, 336, 437, 147 and 148, 120 B and 427 has been registered.
Giving details of the incident, Veeri said:”At around 11.45 pm yesterday some miscreants attacked three Kashmiris with some combustible material, but two people Showkat Ahmad and Zahid Ahmad received injuries. They were rushed to Udhampur hospital from there they were referred to Jammu Medical College,” he said.
The Minister said Zahid Ahmad has received burn injuries and was being hospitalized but third Kashmiri Rameez Ahmad, who was driving the truck had escaped unhurt.
However, Veeri said the Government will bear the expenses on their treatment. He condemned the attack and assured the House that strict action will be taken against the culprits.
Not satisfied with the reply of the Government, the Opposition NC, Congress and Independent legislators walked out of the House.
Meanwhile, NC and Congress legislators today staged out a walkout over the Udhampur incident in the Council.
As soon as the business began in Upper House at 11 am, the MLCs of NC and Congress raised the issue of Udhampur and accused right wing forces and ruling coalition Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) for provoking these acts.
Amid uproar, the Minister for Hajj and Auqaf and Horticulture, A R Veeri, briefed the House on behalf of the Government about the incident and said that the accused have been arrested. “I assure the House that strict action would be initiated against those involved in the incident,” he said.
However, the opposition was not satisfied with his answer and they disrupted the question hour.
The protesting opposition while pointing towards BJP alleged that they are trying to “divide the State on religious and regional lines”. “They are polarizing the State…They are provoking people,” the NC and Congress MLCs alleged and said entire responsibility of these incidents lie on People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The members amid uproar staged a walkout from the House.
After their walkout, the routine business continued smoothly and within few minutes the Opposition returned to the House.
After the query from Opposition, the Rural Development Minister Abdul Haq Khan said that the victims of Udhampur attack are being treated and rejected rumors of their death. He said that a case under 307 and 120B Sections has been registered in this regard.
The Chairman Anayat Ali at 1.30 pm adjourned the House till Monday.
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