Shopian Killings CM orders Judicial Inquiry ‘I assure guilty will be brought to justice’ Srinagar, Oct 1 (KNS): The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today ordered a judicial probe headed by a retired High Court judge to bring the facts to public. Answering a discussion initiated after PDP and other parties moved an adjournment motion pertaining to the incidents of Shopian, Kishtwar, Gool, Markundal, Samba and Hira Nagar killings which was allowed by the Speaker after he suspended the question hour, Omar said that the different statements issued on the incident has created confusion and now the people will not accept even if proofs are provided to them. “It has become compulsory now to ask a retired judge to investigate Shopian killings,” the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister accepted that issuing different statements on the incident made the issue murkier. Omar said that he is still not convinced about the facts which have reached me. Two motorcyclists, five people, four killed, one injured. I only know these things. “Yes I am convinced only that the fourth was a militant. But this does not prove that his three companions were also militants. The law says that a suspect is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.” The Chief Minister said that the various statements pertaining to the Shopian incident issued by the police and other security agencies have created a situation where judicial probe is necessitated. He said that he will ask the Law Department to issue necessary notification in this regard and make the probe by a retired High Court Judge a time bound matter. He said he wants people should know the veracity of the event in which five people have lost their lives. Describing Shopian, Kishtwar, Gool, Hira Nagar, Samba, etc incidents of different nature, Omar Abdullah said that the loss of human lives is most disturbing and painful for any Chief Minister. He said whenever any such incident takes place he is engulfed with pain. “Any person who possesses human heart will not remain untouched by the killing of human beings”, he said and added that when in the past he used to speak his heart in this regard, it was misinterpreted as his helplessness. “The reality is that such of mine statements were the voice of my heart reflecting my deep pain over human killings”, he said and referred to his statement in the Legislative Assembly over the killing of a youth of Baramulla. The Chief Minister said that right from 1990 such incidents have taken place during the period of various Chief Ministers. “I am sure that all of these Chief Ministers were equally pained and grieved as I am”, he said and maintained that every Chief Minister wants to stop such happenings and he has also taken various measures to prevent such killings. He said during his regime all the incidents involving civilian deaths by security forces have been accounted for and cases were registered for enquiry. He said many such enquiries have been completed and many are in the court of law. “I assure the people of Shopian that if in the judicial probe, security forces were found guilty of innocent civilian killings, would be booked under the law for handing over the severe punishment”, he said and elaborated that the impression being given that security forces have free hand to commit civil killings is totally wrong. He referred to the arrest of a BSF officer in the killing of a youth from Brain and said that his case is in the court of law for final judgment. He also mentioned various enquiries constituted by his Government in various cases involving civilian killings. He also mentioned Pathribal incident and said that the final verdict in the case will be given by the Supreme Court. “I wish the Apex Court decides this matter the way it decided Delhi rape case within no time,” he opined. Omar said that when people lose faith in the system that is most serious thing. He asked all political parties and legislators to be united in strengthening the institutions and said that the verdicts by courts in such cases where public sentiments are involved need to be put on fast tract like that of Delhi rape case. The Chief Minister said that while the killings of innocent people are condemnable by all measuring standards, the sacrifices of police and security personnel to safeguard the State and the lives of the people are highly commendable and their martyrdom should be condoled in the same manner as the killing of civilian. He said 57 police and security personnel laid their lives in the militancy related incidents. “We should also remember them and express our sympathy and solidarity to their families”, he said praising the sacrifices made by these brave police and security personnel. He referred to the incident of Kishtwar and other parts and said that rumours were responsible to fan the tension and create wedge between different sections of the society. He said that the timely action by the administration and the full cooperation extended by people helped to save the situation going out of control. He said some vested elements wanted to accentuate and raise the sentiments of people to create 2008 like situation in the State. The Chief Minister also referred to the resignation of the then Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo and said that it was Kitchloo’s own decision to frustrate the elements who wanted to flair-up the situation and create communal tension. He said credit for this goes to Sajjad Kichloo who snatched all chances from the hands of peace inimical elements and helped conduct of smooth judicial probe. (KNS)
Posted on: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 08:49:56 +0000
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