Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 4: Minorities today observed a complete shutdown in Kishtwar in protest against atrocities on innocent youths of the community by the Special Investigating Team (SIT) headed by Shiv Kumar Chouhan.
All shops and other business establishments owned by the minority community remained closed in Kishtwar town and outskirts throughout the day today.
There was strong resentment among the minorities against the beating-up of a 16 year old minor boy Ajay Kumar allegedly by the SIT to pressurize him to admit his involvement in a murder case committed during August 9 Kishtwar violence or become a witness to it.
Sanatan Dharam Sabha (SDS) Kishtwar had given call for the bandh, which had been supported by the BJP and other social and religious organisations of minority community.
SDS president Hans Raj Bhutyal asked the SIT to mend its ways or else the minorities would be forced to intensify their agitation. He said the youths of minorities were being implicated in false cases as the SIT has failed to solve them.
“The SIT having failed to solve the cases was trying to implicate innocent youths of minorities to claim credit. This will not be tolerated,’’ the local people of minority community said and demanded stern action against the SIT officials involved in torture of Ajay Kumar and attempt to implicate the minor boy in murder and other cases.
It may be mentioned that Ajay Kumar had to be hospitalized in Kishtwar and then referred to the Government Medical College, Jammu.
The minorities have called upon the SIT to shun their biased approach towards minorities and hold impartial investigations failing which the people would be forced to resort to agitational path.
The minorities have already demanded immediate dismissal of SP Shiv Kumar Chouhan, Incharge SIT from the services for brutalities on the innocent youth.
Meanwhile, sources said, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has also take suo moto cognizance of the SIT brutalities on Ajay Kumar and decided to seek explanation from the officials.
The SHRC acted on media reports of police excesses on 16 years old Ajay Kumar.
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