CPI(M) demands judicial probe into killing of 'civilians'

The CPI(M) in Jammu and Kashmir today demanded a judicial probe into the killings of "civilians" at Dooru and Chancer in South Kashmir by security forces, saying such incidents have put a "question mark" on the "credibility" of the administration.
"We demand a judicial probe into the alleged twin killings of civilians in Dooru belt of Anantnag district and Chancer belt of Kulgam district by security forces," Senior CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam M Y Tarigami told reporters here.
"Evidences reveal that Sajjad Malik was in custody and was killed in a staged encounter at Dooru," he claimed.
Tarigami alleged that the administration has "distorted the facts behind the innocent killing."

"Killing of Assadullah Kumar, an employee of Fisheries Department at Chanser in Kulgam on Friday evening is one more addition to the long list of brutalities committed by those claiming to be protectors of law," he said.
"How long will this spree of bloodshed and lawlessness continue? A citizen has a legitimate right to seek answers from those who are at the helm of affairs," the CPI(M) leader said.

He alleged that Kumar was killed in a fake encounter which cannot be "covered up on the pretext of cross-firing."
"If the government has nothing to conceal or to shield the misdeeds of the guilty, why it hesitates to conduct judicial probe in all civilian killings so that culprits are brought to the justice?" he said.

Terming the slogans 'vishwas and vikas' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "mere mantras", Tarigami claimed that the people have lost faith in the government.
"Mere sloganeering does not make any sense and both the dispensations at the Centre and the state shall have to take concerted and concrete steps to restore the faith of the people by making law enforcing agencies accountable," he said.
The CPI(M) has consistently been demanding a probe by a judicial commission headed by retired Supreme Court judge to inquire into the killings of civilians and maiming of youngsters by pellet guns and PAVA shells, he said.