Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 8: Carrying the body of killed Principal for cremation, the members of Sikh community today staged a sit-in outside Civil Secretariat in Srinagar in protest against the killing and demanded justice.
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The members of Sikh community, majority of whom were family members and relatives of slain school Principal Supinder Kaur, who was shot dead along with her colleague Deepak Chand, at Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Sangam, Eidgah, Srinagar, walked on foot from Aloochibagh to Civil Secretariat.
The family members of Kaur were carrying her body on a stretcher and when they reached the Civil Secretariat, they staged a silent-sit-in.
Senior police officers reached the spot and persuaded the family members of Kaur to take her body to Batamaloo cremation ground for last rites. However, the family members of slain Kaur demanded “justice and stern punishment to the killers” before proceeding for cremation ground.
Meanwhile, scores of members from the Sikh community participated in the last rites of Kaur’s cremation at Batamloo cremation ground amid slogans- “We want justice… Punish the culprits…”
Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (GPC) Srinagar in an emergency meeting held at Gurdwara Singh Sabha Amirakadal today strongly condemned the brutal killings of Supinder Kaur and Deepak Chand when they were performing the dutie.
President GPC Srinagar S.Budha Singh expressed anguish and demanded strong action against killers. “The act is inhumane and barbaric,” it said.
Secretary GPC Srinagar S. Navtej Singh while expressing anguish expresses his concern over the Govt’s attitude of non-seriousness about the security of life and property of minorities.
The Parbandhak Committee said that the Government is hereby appraised about the threat being faced by the Govt. “Employees associated with the minority community in this regard the Government must exempt employees associated with the minority community from attending their duties till the proper security arrangements are made,” GPC said.
Former Chief Minister and NC leader Omar Abdullah who visited the house of Supinder at Aloochi Bagh said that the attacks on the minorities were aimed to create a wedge between the communities.
He made a fervent appeal to members of minority communities and urged them “don’t allow repeat of early 90’s and not to leave their homes.”
“I can understand the pain and fear the families of slain are going through and also the members of minority communities. I believe these attacks are aimed to drive a wedge between the communities and to push them out of Kashmir. We can’t let that happen,” Omar told reporters at Kaur’s Aloochibagh residence.
Omar said the attackers are perhaps trying to ensure another exodus. “I appeal to the members of the minority community don’t allow a repeat of the early 90’s and not to leave your homes out of fear,” he said, adding that he and his party will continue to press for security to be granted to protect minorities in the Valley.
Omar also questioned the J&K administration’s decision of granting 10-day holiday to Government employees belonging to Kashmiri Pandit community only and ignoring members of Sikh community.
“Why this selective approach? Government must reconsider its decision and include Government employees belonging to Sikh community too,” he said.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today took a jibe at BJP Government stating that it was the Government at the Centre and their wrong policies adopted in Jammu and Kashmir post August 5, 2019, that are directly responsible for the fast deteriorating situation in Kashmir.
“BJP Government and its wrong policies adopted since August 5, 2019 and before that as well, are directly responsible for the fast worsening situation in Kashmir,” Mehbooba told reporters outside slain school principal Supinder Kaur’s Aloochibagh residence.
She said that it was very painful to see two little kids of slain Kaur. “What was their fault,”? she asked.
The PDP chief while condemning the killing of Kaur also denounced the killing of a civilian at Anantnag stating that “it’s an irony that it was stated by the Government the slain youth was trying to attack security forces.”
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