Jammu Kashmir Govt To Order Own Inquiries Into Two Civilian Deaths, Announces CM Omar

Political parties have demanded a judicial inquiries into the death of a driver in Army firing and another youth after police questioning.

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced that it will order its own inquiries into the killing of two civilians in two separate incidents on Tuesday.

Two civilians including Makhan Din from Jammu’s Billawar and Waseem Ahmed Malla from Baramulla died in two separate incidents. The 25-year-old Din was found dead at his home in Perody area of Billawar in Kathua district after he was questioned for being an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of terrorists by J&K Police while Malla was killed in firing for allegedly crossing checkpoint set up by Army in north Kashmir's Baramulla.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he has taken up these cases with the union government and announced that the his government will order its inquiries in both the incidents.

In the Union Territory, the home which controls Police and public order doesn’t fall under the purview of the elected government and is directly controlled by Union Home Ministry.

“I have seen the reports of excessive use of force & harassment of Makhan Din in police custody in Billawar leading to his suicide and the death of Waseem Ahmed Malla, shot by the army under circumstances that are not entirely clear,” said Abdullah.

Describing both the incidents ‘highly unfortunate’, he said they should not have happened.

“J&K will never be completely normalised and free of terror without the cooperation of & partnership with the local population.

“Incidents like these risk alienating the very people who we need to carry with us on the road to complete normalcy. I have taken up these incidents with the Union Government & insisted that both incidents are inquired into in a time bound, transparent manner. The Government in J&K will also order its own inquiries.”

National Conference Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi said he sought time but was not given time to raise these issues in the Parliament today.

“While the Nation including the opposition parties in Parliament are concerned - which we all should be- about the handcuffing and deportation of the Indian citizens in America, two citizens (civilians) in Jammu and Kashmir got killed by security forces during the last 24 hours, soon after the meeting for the security review of Kashmir conducted by Home Minister of India yesterday in Delhi,” he said.

A day ago, Home Minister Amit Shah ordered security forces in top huddle for wiping out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Mehdi, “as per reports one was killed by torture in custody and the other on road by firing bullets in his chest for (allegedly) having failed to stop at a checkpoint.”

The Member of Parliament said he expects “the nation specifically INDIA alliance led by Congress will be equally concerned about the murder of two innocent citizens in J&K and ask for the immediate arrest of the security personnel involved in these killings and demand for justice”.

In the meantime, Former Bharatiya Janata Party president Ravinder Raina sought a thorough investigation into both cases, insisting that those found guilty must face strict action.

Political Parties Condemn
Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have expressed outrage over the twin incidents.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra expressed outrage over the unfortunate incident in Baramulla.

In a statement, Karra strongly condemned the killing of Truck Driver, terming the incident as very fortunate, a matter of grave concern.

“Such incidents are detrimental to peace initiatives, attributing to fear psychosis in the society. Killing of Innocent persons is barbaric,inhuman and unacceptable in a civilized society. The Government should look into the matter very seriously and ensure that no innocent life is lost, " he said.

Karra urged the government to order a time bound judicial probe into the incident to ascertain the facts and the circumstances which left the family of the deceased truck driver devastated.

He condemned the death of Makhan Din of Perody in Kathua.

Karra urged the government to bring the facts out and ensure justice to the family of the deceased Makhan Din.

“Though the magisterial enquiry was ordered into the incident, that should be time bound, ensuring that justice is delivered to the family of the deceased Makhan Din,” Karra added.

Communist leader and legislator Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami said the killing of a truck driver is an unfortunate incident and could have been easily prevented with a more cautious approach instead of a trigger-happy response.

Tarigami in a statement said the "shocking incident in Billawar, Kathua and Sopore killing must be thoroughly investigated to ensure accountability and bring the culprits to justice".

Peoples Conference president and legislator Sajad Lone said that "killing is a killing irrespective of the source or the context".

“The killing of the truck driver is a murder. And it being executed by security forces makes it even more heinous. This is a symptom. Malaise lies deeper and is uglier and the malaise is contempt and disregard for Kashmiri lives. Plain and simple,” Lone said in a statement.