SHRC Calls DCs, SSPs Of Pulwama, Anantnag To Account Over Eid Eve Civilian Killings

Srinagar: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Tuesday passed direction to the deputy commissioners of Pulwama and Anantnag and also to the concerned senior superintendents of police of the two districts to file a detailed compliance report to answer why two civilians were killed in the two districts on the eve of Eid.

The SHRC Chairman, (retd.) Justice Bilal Nazki, passed the direction after human rights activist Ahsan Untoo had moved a petition before the commission.

The petition reads that in the first incident, which took place on 15 June in Pulwama district’s Nowpora area, a youth, namely Waqas Ahmed Rather, was killed and a young woman badly injured in security forces firing.

In the second incident, a grenade blast in Anantnag killed Sheeraz Ahmed later on the day of Eid celebrations.

The petition reads further that more than two dozen people were injured in clashes and many among them were hit by pellets.

The petitioner points out that the civilian killings and injuries are the outcome of irresponsible action by the security forces, which is against the ethics and principles of human rights.

It pleaded before the rights body to pass appropriate orders for the investigation of the civilian killings and to find out the real facts behind them.

The petitioner further prayed that the concerned authorities be directed to compensate the victims and the families of all the injured civilians.

The petitioner’s plea was for the killers [to] be brought to justice and [to let] direction be passed to security forces to explain their standard operating procedures while dealing with protests.

By: Nusrat Sidiq 
(KR)