KL Report
Srinagar
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar Wednesday informed the House that Government has lodged FIR into the Tuesday’s firing incident at Ganaie Hamam, Baramulla in which one youth was killed by Army and another injured.
Replying to the debate on adjournment motion on the said killing moved by senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig, Sagar said government will get justice to the bereaved family and culprits responsible for the incident would be brought to book. He said government has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh for the family of the deceased.
Earlier, the Speaker, Mubarak Gul, suspending the routine business for day, allowed the motion. He expressed sorrow over the loss of life in yesterday’s incident.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, Sagar said government has already issued strict instructions to the security forces to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with the law and order situations. Expressing solidarity with the bereaved family, he said the incident is a matter of concern for the entire House but cautioned members not to do politics over this sensitive and human issue thus playing with the sentiments of people.
Appealing opposition to desist from cheap politicking, Sagar said such incident draw our collective attention to think about the safety and security of people rather than scoring brownie points.
“Let them come with suggestions to improve the security situation in the State rather than raising the pitch and accusations,” he said.
Earlier, initiating the discussion, Muzaffar Baig demanded thorough probe of the incident and punishment for the culprits responsible for the killing. He urged the Government to take all preventive measures to check such incidents in future and create a congenial atmosphere. He urged the Chief Minister to impress upon all security agencies to follow SOPs in letter and spirit.
Abdul Gani Malik while taking part in the discussion said that it is the responsibility of all of us to make efforts to restore peace and order in all areas of the State. He expressed anguish over the incident and sought punishment to the guilty. He also highlighted the role of the Army during the militancy period and bringing normalcy in the State, but he urged the forces to maintain maximum restraint while dealing with the law and order situation.
Prof Chaman Lal Gupta said that entire House has the concern about innocent killings but simultaneously he said that Army should not be straight away blamed for each incident unless the matter is inquired into.
“Army’s role is to protect the borders but due to militancy the Army was called to tackle the situation,” Prof Gupta said. He however, urged that the culprits responsible for the incidents should be booked under law.
State secretary of CPI(M) M. Y. Tarigami in his speech expressed concern over the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents time and again. He suggested that a resolution be brought in the House for revocation of AFSPA and bringing accountability within the ranks of security agencies.
“If the Centre feels that infiltration has come down in the state, the AFSPA should be revoked,” Tarigami said while demanding time bound probe into the incident and steps to avoid such incidents in future.
While raising the issue killing of two policemen recently in Handwara, Ashok Khajuria said that the death of innocents is a crime and should be condemned by all.
Lauding the role of army, Mohammad Sharief Niaz said that militancy has taken numerous lives during the past over two decades in the state.
“Today we are living in a peaceful atmosphere because of the efforts and sacrifices of security forces and we should not undermine their role. However, if anybody from the Army or security forces found involved in the human rights violations be punished after thorough probe. We should not politicise the issue for our petty gains,”
he said.
Independent lawmaker, Engineer Rashid expressing anguish over the killing of Baramulla youth in yesterday’s firing incident said that unless the basic issues are addressed, such incidents will continue to take place. He blamed Central and State Governments for the present situation due to their wrong policies.
Ashwani Kumar Sharma advocated identifying the elements who instigate youth to create law and order situation for their personal gains, which leads to such incidents. “Such situations compel the security forces to open fires, which often results into deaths of innocent youth,” he said adding that everyone should be concerned over the innocent deaths and the issue should not be politicised, rather collective efforts should be made to curb such incidents.
Expressing his anguish over the incident, Rachpal Singh pleaded for concrete steps to curb such incidents. He suggested identifying the elements, which are responsible to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of the state.
“Killers have no ideology and they are always enemy of the mankind, he said while demanding adherence to SOPs and maintaining zero tolerance to human rights violations.
PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti expressed anguish over the unfortunate firing incident saying the government has failed to protect the lives and properties of the people in Jammu & Kashmir.
“Government has not taken adequate steps to curb the incidents of human rights violations while demanding thorough probe of the incident and providing proper justice to the victim’s family,” said Mehbooba.
