Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 1: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today announced judicial enquiry by a retired High Court Judge into Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) firing in Shopian in which four persons including a Pakistani militant were killed on September 7.
While replying to an adjournment motion moved by opposition parties in the Assembly over recent killings in Shopian, Kishtwar, Gool, Markundal, Samba and Hiranagar, Omar said he will get an order issued by the Law Department for appointing a retired High Court judge to urgently start investigations into the incident and submit a report within a timeframe.
“I will have to ask a retired judge of the High Court, because sitting judges are not provided. It has now become almost compulsory. Sweet or bitter, we are bound to tell people of Shopian the truth about the incident. If any security force personnel is guilty, he will be punished by the courts and whatever action is possible, will be taken,” said the Chief Minister.
Omar said statements issued by various security agencies over the antecedents of those killed in the firing incident had made the situation “murky” to the extent that even if something is found against these men, nobody is going to accept it.
“There was a talk right from the beginning that this inquiry needs to be upgraded and I wanted to do it in a proper way. If there would have been no statements, perhaps, we would not need this and we would have come to a conclusion based on the investigations. We have struck the axe at our own feet by issuing these statements and these statements have caused the damage,” he said.
Omar said while there was no militancy record against three local persons killed in the incident, based on police investigations and the evidence he has seen, he is convinced that the fourth person was a militant.
“He was not a Bihari labourer. For a moment even if we accept what the Leader of the Opposition said about no one coming forward to own the labourer that locals do not want to get caught in cases. But someone from Bihar would have come forward. Today, everyone has a mobile, phone calls are not expensive. Someone from his family would have tried to contact after 22 days,” the Chief Minister said.
“Now the question is about others killed in the incident. There is a need to ascertain their antecedents. We have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt who they were? The benefit of doubt should be given to them. Just knowing someone, does that make them militants? Accomplices or associates words used in the statements doesn’t mean that they are guilty. Does that (being associates) make them militants?” Omar asked.
Referring to his statement in the Legislative Assembly over the killing of a youth in Baramulla, the Chief Minister said that in the past when he used to speak his heart, it was misinterpreted as his helplessness. “The reality is that my statements were the voice of my heart reflecting my deep pain over human killings”, he said.
Omar described the Shopian, Markandal, Kishtwar, Gool, Hiranagar and Samba incidents of different nature. “The loss of human lives is most disturbing and painful for any Chief Minister. 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.
He 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.
Omar 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 Government all the incidents involving civilian deaths by security forces have been accounted for and cases were registered and enquiries conducted. He said many such enquiries have been completed and many are in the court of law.
He said that in every incident action has been taken or is being taken. Police have lodged FIRs in 2010 killings and investigating are going on and some cases are in the court of law. “It is upto the courts to decide who is innocent and who is guilty”, he added.
Omar said that an impression is being given that security forces have free hand to commit civilian killings is totally wrong. He said: “You can’t compare one incident with the other, every incident has its own characteristics. These killings are being presented in such a way as if the security forces have been given free hand.”
He referred to the arrest of a BSF officer in the killing of a youth from Brain in Srinagar and said that his case is in the court of law for final judgment.
Omar mentioned Pathribal incident and said that the final verdict in the case will be given by the Supreme Court. “We couldn’t prosecute them during the tenure of three Chief Ministers. Justice system is very slow here. The verdicts by courts in such cases where public sentiments are involved need to be put on fast track like that of Delhi rape case”, he said.
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 civilians. 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.
Omar 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 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.
Chief Minister said his Government managed to prevent the violence from spreading to other parts of Jammu region like Poonch and Rajouri. He said the Kishtwar incident was linked to Village Defence Committees (VDCs).
“Despite the attacks at Kathua and Samba, the militancy in Jammu region has declined considerably. What is the role of VDCs in such a situation and how to make them more accountable is being discussed in the Government,” Omar said.
Chief Minister also referred to the resignation of the then Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo and said that it was Sajjad’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.
Omar said that people have not only lost faith on Government but entire system that is most serious thing. He asked all political parties and legislators to be united in strengthening the institutions. “We are also responsible for it and we have face it. We in the treasury benches and opposition have to work together to restore it back”, he said.
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