J&K Assembly condoles deaths of persons killed in violence in state and Kishtwar riots

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday condoled the death of innocent persons and security personnel killed in the recent incidents of violence in the state and Kishtwar riots.

A two-minute silence was observed by the members of the House as a tribute to all those killed in recent incidents of violence after several members spoke on obituary reference for former Rajya Sabha member DC Prashant, former MLC DK Kotwal and former deputy Secretary of assembly GN Shora.

Mubarak Gul, Speaker of the Assembly, which began its nine-day autumn session, allowed the members to speak about the recent incidents including Shopian firing, twin terror strikes in Kathua and Samba, killing of youth at Markunal in army firing, Gool killings and Kishtwar riots.

The members, cutting across party lines, condemned the loss of innocent lives in these incidents.

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said the twin terror strikes resonated at the UN and the Kishtwar riots made it to Parliament, but the killings in Shopian, Gool and Markundal should at least find mention in the state legislature so that people of the state feel there is someone to talk about them.

"We are not under any illusion that we can get them justice. Justice has become a casualty..." she said, alleging that an officer involved in a custodial death incident had been given a prize posting.

She said it was "unfortunate" that corruption, murder and human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir were brushed aside in the name of national interest.

Harsh Dev Singh of National Panthers Party (NPP) said it was alarming that militants were able to travel 35 kms without being noticed while carrying out the twin attacks in Jammu region last week. He condemned the Kishtwar riots and the killings in Shopian and Gool areas.

Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather said the legislators should rise above politics and find out ways and means to put an end to the unabated bloodshed in the state. "There is an uncertainty in the state which needs to be ended," he said.

Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami of CPI(M) said the cycle of "killings" and "helplessness" in the state has to end.

"Democratic institutions are an expression of the will of the people but recent events have lowered the esteem of the house in the eyes of the people. This situation has to change or else, there will be irreparable damage to the state as well as the country," he said. "People laugh at us when we demand an inquiry into the killings," he added.

BJP leader Jugal Kishore while condemning the killings, claimed Article 370 of the Constitution had kept Jammu and Kashmir backward. "Has Article 370 put the state on the path of development? Has it stopped the number of unemployed youth from going up?" he asked.