Asif Iqbal Naik
KISHTWAR
In another attempt to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in Kishtwar District, some miscreants last intervening night allegedly pelted stones on local Mosque/Darazgah in Kijae village of Padder Tehsil in Kishtwar District some 60 KM from District headquarter Kishtwar.
The incident resulted into widespread anger and resentment among the Muslim community in Padder who took to streets and block Kishtwar-Padder National Highway for several hours before Superintendent of Police Kishtwar assured the VDCs to Muslim community of the Padder.
As per the details available with Kashmir life, the miscreants who were said to be the part of local marriage party when passed through the Muslim dominated Kijae village of the Padder, pelted stone on the local Mosque/Darazga as a result of which the windowpanes of both the religious places suffered damages.
Soon after members of Muslim community assembled at the village site and held strong protest against the administration and police accusing them of failure in providing them the security cover. Sensing trouble, the government swung into action and directed the SP Kishtwar Sanjay Kotwal to rush to the spot and pacify the protesters.
As the protest was going on in Kishtwar, administration immediately put in place all the security measures in Kishtwar town and its adjoining areas to prevent any law and order situation. After hectic efforts and assurance from the SP Kishtwar that Muslim VDCs will be created in the area for the protection of the Muslim community in Padder area, the protestors called of the protest.
SP Kishtwar also assured the people that police will take stern action against the culprits involved in this mischievous act and informed the agitating people that the police has already registered an FIR of the incident under relevant sections of the law against the culprits who will be shortly identified. The agitating people also demanded immediate arrest of all the accused who were involved in last year August 9 and 10 Kishtwar communal violence. The people allege that the culprits involved in murders, loot and arson are still roaming freely threatening the peace and further alleged that police and politicians were hand in glove and provided shield to the culprits of Kishtwar violence. As off now the situation in Padder is presently under control.
Meanwhile former President Santhan Dharam Sabha Kishtwar Raj Kumar Badyal also condemned the Padder incident and demanded stern action against the culprits involved behind this heinous crime. He said that there is no place for those elements in the society who wants to create wedge between the two communities by attacking any religious places. He also demanded action against the perpetrators of Kishtwar communal violence.
