Srinagar, Dec 17: Demanding a time-bound probe into civilian killings in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, National Conference on Monday asked the Governor-led administration to use non-lethal weapons like water cannons to quell the protests in the Valley.
NC general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar said it was unfortunate and criminal that militants and protestors were being dealt with the same yardstick.
“The governor administration should make sure that non-lethal weapons like water cannons are used to quell the protests. Incidents like these will not help to bring peace to the valley. Such horrendous incidents will push the already aggravated and aggrieved people especially youth to wall,” Sagar said in a statement issued from NC headquarters here.
According to a party press release, addressing a meet of party functionaries, Sagar expressed shock at the “impunity” with which unarmed civilians were being devoured.
“Incidents like these don’t auger well for a democratic country. I urge the incumbent governor administration to initiate an inquiry into the incident and depute fact-finding team to the place where the gory incident took place,” he said as per the statement.
Sagar also asked the Central government to put a end to civilian killings in Kashmir and immediately initiate reconciliatory process.
The press release quoted NC provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani as saying that the incident could have been avoided by using less lethal weapons and adhering to proper Standard Operating Procedure.
“Our party whether in government or outside government, has always upheld that Kashmir issue is political in nature. However, our repeated protests and requests have fallen on deaf ears. What has unfurled at Sirnoo hamlet the other day is a blot on humanity,” he said adding, “The incumbent administration must initiate a time-bound inquiry into the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
The leaders who attended the meet demanded immediate release of ex-MLA Langate Abdul Rashid, saying that the former legislator has every right to protest, and that incumbent administration should respect his person as he represented the people in the Legislative Assembly for good time.
