Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar Apr 17: The business and trade bodies today demanded immediate removal of bunkers from main market places and educational institutions, particularly the bunker in the main Chowk of Handwara market.
The bodies demanded time-bound enquiry through an independent and reliable agency into the alleged molestation incident and firing by security forces. The other demands include lodging of FIR against the culprits and the revocation of AFSPA.
The demands were made during a press conference by 7-member team of business and traders’ bodies that visited North Kashmir and met the families of the victims and Civil Society.
The press conference was addressed by president of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, its Secretary General, Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, Chairman Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) Mohammad Yasin Khan.
The team visited Handwara and parts of Kupwara district to make an on the spot assessment of the situation arising out of firing by security forces that lead to death of five persons in Handwara and Kupwara.
They said that the team met the members of civil society and trading community at Handwara and Bumhamma- three kilometers from Kupwara since the team was not allowed to proceed beyond that point by the police.
Wani said the team was informed that people were protesting over the molestation of a school girl and security forces without following the standard operating procedures (SOP) opened fire that killed the budding cricketer Mohammad Nayeem who was shopping in the market for his cricket trip outside the State.
“The firing also claimed the life of a young boy of Shallapora Peer Iqbal of village Shallapora, district Kupwara who was working as a salesman in a shop in Handwara market. The team visited the residence of both the deceased and offered condolences and expressed solidarity with the families and people of the area”, Wani said.
“A woman who was working in her farm at Langate received bullet injuries and later succumbed to gun injuries at Soura Medical Institute. Another youth Arif Dar was killed in forces firing at Nuthnussa, Handwara. He was a resident of Ovura , Kupwara. Another Youth Jehangir Ahmad Wani also became victim at the hands of forces being hit by a shell at Nagri.”
The team was informed that there was complete curfew for the past five days without any relaxation causing untold suffering to the people particularly children, sick and old people.
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