CPI(M) condemns civilian killings in Shopian

Jammu and Kashmir unit of CPI(M) today demanded an apology from the state government over the killing of three innocent civilians in CRPF firing in Shopian district last week.

"If the government has any moral authority, it should apologise for the killing of the three youth in Shopian on Saturday. The Chief Minister (Omar Abdullah) being the head of the coalition government should express regret over the loss of innocent lives," said state Secretary of CPI(M) M Y Tarigami.

Four persons were killed in CRPF firing in Shopian on Saturday just five hours ahead of the music maestro Zubin Mehta's musical concert 'Ehsaas-e-Kashmir'.

Meanwhile police yesterday said that while three of the killed youth had no militant links, the fourth was a Pakistani militant Abdullah Haroon.

Tarigami demanded a time-bound judicial probe into the incident to fix responsibility and punishing the culprits to send a message that no one is above the law.

"A message has to go to security forces that they have to work within the law and there is accountability in the system. This impunity for the killings has to end, or else the consequences can be disastrous not only for Jammu and Kashmir but for the entire country," he added.

He said police declaration that three out of four persons killed in Gagran shootout were civilians vindicates the public stand.

"These killings are heinous and condemnable. As such the anger in the area is justifiable and in no way should be deemed unnecessary," he said.

He urged the government to provide ex-gratia relief to next of kin of slain youths, besides government jobs on compassionate grounds.

Tarigami lamented that administration deals with every situation either by imposing curfew or letting lose the police batons on people.

"How long can this go on? The government must talk to civil society in Shopian and surrounding areas. We demand curfew and curbs in Shopian and elsewhere, should be lifted as people there are immensely suffering due to acute shortage of food and other essential supplies.

"Not only the patients are facing immense problems due to the unavailability of life saving drugs, but farmers and orchardists are not able to attend their fields, orchards in this important season for their crop," he said.