Excelsior Correspondent
CHATROO, Aug 24: Terming the current situation in Kashmir “extremely serious,” PCC vice president Ghulam Mohammad Saroori said there was no justification for needless deaths when protesting youths were only throwing stones.
While meeting with general public at various places of sub-division Chatroo of district Kishtwar, Saroori said the Congress was shocked at the death of 68 youths in the firing by the Central paramilitary forces and the police. “These deaths could not be condoned and we have a deep sense of sympathy with the families who have lost their young members,” he said.
“There can be no justification whatsoever for these needless deaths when the protesting youths were only throwing stones. There has to be an immediate end to these brutal and inhuman police firings. There has to be a strict no-firing policy to face stone-throwing crowds. Other measures are to be resorted to in such confrontations,” he added.
Maintaining that he did not share the view of the Government of India over Kashmir, Mr Saroori said, “We are of the opinion that Jammu and Kashmir has to be treated as a special case and not in a conventional manner. Provisions of maximum autonomy are the only way forward to find a political solution.”
Saroori stressed that the process of dialogue should be open-ended and involve all sections of people. He also urged the Centre to have a road map for talks. “Talks with Pakistan should also be resumed and it should cover all the issues. It is necessary to take the dialogue in J&K forward,” he said.
Mr Saroori stressed that the State administration should provide adequate compensation to those injured in the police action and rehabilitate those who had permanent disabilities. “To help restore normality, the administration should release all juveniles detained and lodged in prisons. I appeal to people, particularly the youth, to pursue their protests through peaceful means,” he said
Later at Sigdi, Chatroo, Dadpeth, Mugalmaidan and Chingam areas, Saroori along with District Social Welfare Officer Kishtwar, reviewed the functioning of the Social Welfare Department. He took review of various schemes being implemented by the department in sub-division Chatroo.
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