NC, Cong, CPI(M) condemn killing of youth in Anantnag

Srinagar, Sep 6 (PTI) Opposition National Conference andstate units of Congress and CPI(M) today condemned the killingof a youth in security forces’ firing in Anantnag district andblamed the PDP-led government and the Centre of "mishandling"the situation in Kashmir. "There seems to be no end to the current unrest due to themishandling of the situation by the state and Centregovernment," Congress chief G A Mir said in a statement here. "Chief Minister (Mehbooba Mufti) being head of the UnifiedCommand must clarify her position on the unabated killings,use of bullets and lethal weapons on the people agitatingagainst the civilian killings," he said. Expressing distress over the growing incidents of killingsand injuries, Mir said the current unrest was an outcome ofthe "utter failure" of the PDP-BJP coalition government tocontain the situation in the Valley. Questioning the silence of the Chief Minister over theunabated killings, Congress said the protests could becontrolled by other means and it was neither "necessary to usebullets to control the protests nor shall it help to restorepeace". The Congress said the unabated killings and injuries tothousands of people were not allowing the situation tonormalise as anger among the people is at peak. Mir termed as "unfortunate and unacceptable" roughing upof people allegedly by security forces at various placesincluding Seer Hamdan in Anantnag and Rangreth in Srinagar. "When such type of actions by forces are not stopped, howcan you expect that peace will prevail or people wouldcontribute to restore peace," he questioned, adding that"there is a need to create a peaceful atmosphere and forcesshould be directed to exercise restraint". National Conference also expressed outrage over thecontinued "excesses by forces" and the "criminal silence"maintained by Mehbooba-led government over the "atrocities". National Conference Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wanisaid such killings had become a norm. "People are being forced to come on roads. In Seer,something similar happened," he said. Demanding an end to the night raids by security forces, hesaid, "such raids meant to terrorise people resulted inkilling of many youth including the killing that took placetoday." "It was time for the government to put its act together.Mehbooba must ensure that night raids stop. Those responsiblefor allowing and carrying out these brutalities and murdersmust be held accountable," Wani said. The National Conference also demanded a judicial inquiryinto the killing. Condemning the killing, CPI(M) state secretary Ghulam NabiMalik asked the government how long the civilian killings willcontinue in Kashmir. The CPI(M) also demanded an enquiry into the killing sothat the responsible persons are identified and booked underlaw. PTI MIJ MRJ ZMNMRJ