Adil Lateef
Srinagar, Oct 12: The Government today said that three civilians have been killed and 41 injured during protests and clashes in the State since March this year.
In a written reply to MLC Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, the Minister-Incharge-Home stated that during different clashes and protests, 3 civilians lost their lives and 41 were injured. Besides, 484 policemen and 43 security forces personal were also injured during this span of time in the clashes.
The Government also stated that the Public Safety Act (PSA) of 21 persons was also revoked during this period. Out of these 21 persons, 2 are separatists, 3 stone-pelters, 9 Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of militants, 4 habitual criminals and 3 timber smugglers.
Replying to supplementary question by Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, the Minister of Hajj, Auqaf and Horticulture stated that imprisoning of people is not any solution of the issues and dialogue is the only way. He said that the release of detainees and revocation of PSAs is an ongoing process.
Veeri said that the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has given them “clear directions” of not imprisoning anyone whose PSA is quashed. He said that the CM has directed for the release of all those persons whose detention orders are revoked.
When asked by MLC why several separatists have been placed under house arrest, the Minister stated that though the Government believes in allowing everyone to propagate his views as “democracy is the battle of ideas” but sometimes it becomes necessary to curtail the movement of separatists in view of apprehensions of law and order disturbances.
“Government is not interested in placing separatists under house arrest. But whenever there are apprehensions (of disturbances)… we have to place them under house arrest,” he said.
Ruling PDP MLC Firdous Ahmad Tak in a supplementary question said that the police have “framed” some youths in “false case” of raising slogans on the behest of Lashkar-e-Toiba on Eid occasion.
“Earlier it was said that these youths raised anti-Government slogans but then they were booked for raising the slogans at the behest of LeT. It was done only to deny them bail,” the MLC alleged and asked Government to look into the matter and make sure they get bail.
The BJP MLC Sofi Yousuf in another supplementary said that few days ago some youths from Bijbehara Town of Anantnag district were picked up by Gujarat police and it was not revealed why they were picked up.
However, the Minister confirmed the arrests and told the MLC that he will apprise him about issue personally.
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