J&K political parties demand probe into Sopore civilian killing

Srinagar, July 01: National Conference, PDP and JKAP on Wednesday condemned the killing of a civilian hailing from HMT Srinagar at demanded a probe into it.

In a statement issued here to GNS, National Conference expressed grief over the civilian killing and injuries in a “gunfight” in Sopore. The party sought a time pound judicial probe into the circumstances which led to the “barbaric” incident.

“Targeting civilians, minors is condemnable, such barbaric incidents cannot be tolerated. The heart wrenching site of a dead man with the kid atop his chest has shaken every sane person. Incidents like these agitate one’s souls and conscience,” Party’s Provincial Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said.

“Such incidents can never be acceptable in any civilized society. It is therefore imperative upon the government to establish the verity behind the unfortunate incident. The veracity of the different versions will only come to forth following a time bound judicial probe into the matter.”

“My heart goes out to families of the killed civilian and the CRPF trooper who lost his life in the incident,” the NC Spokesman said, adding that the attack was a clear indication of the deteriorating security scenario in J&K and puts a big question mark over the claims of the government.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also demanded time-bound inquiry into the “gruesome” episode.

According to the party spokesman, the videos and the pictures of the shootout and its aftermath have gone viral on social media with a 3-year-old kid becoming the unfortunate face of this mayhem.

He said that the family of the civilian killed in the shootout has given a statement which goes contrary to the official statement issued by the security agencies. “This needs to be probed at a high level and time-bound inquiry and impartial probe into the matter is what we demand from the government at present,” said the PDP spokesman.

Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) also demanded an impartial probe into the killing of Bashir Ahmad Khan, a resident of Mustafa Colony HMT Srinagar who lost his life “near an encounter site” in Sopore.

In a statement issued here to GNS, a spokesman of the party said that the family version of the deceased and the circumstantial evidence, prima facie, suggest that Khan was killed in “cold blood”. “The government should order an impartial investigation into the circumstances that led to the killing of a civilian who was on the way to Sopore in connection with his personal work,” the spokesman added.

He said only a time bound and transparent probe into the incident can reveal the veracity of claims made by the family of the deceased. “The security forces should exercise maximum restraint in such situations and ensure that no collateral damage takes place during such incidents,” the JKAP spokesman observed. (GNS)