Assembly admits resolution on panel on civilian killings

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15

The Legislative Assembly has admitted a resolution of CPM MLA Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami regarding constituting an inquiry commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge on civilian killings in Kashmir, initiating dialogue process with all stakeholders and banning use of pellet guns in maintaining law and order situation.

These were the major demands of united opposition, National Conference, Congress, CPM and JKPDF but so far the PDP-BJP coalition government has preferred to keep mum on these issues.

Since the start of the Budget session on January 2, the Legislative Assembly has witnessed uproar over civilian killings in Kashmir during the five-month-long unrest and use of pellet guns.

Discussion was held on the topic with the Opposition as well as members of treasury benches speaking on it and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti responding. But since the beginning, the Opposition has been demanding a probe into the killing of over 100 civilians during the unrest and use of pellet guns due to which hundreds of youth were injured.

However, there was no response from the state government to the Opposition’s demands.

Now, abruptly the Assembly has admitted the resolution moved by Tarigami on the three issues. “Constituting of Commission of Inquiry, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to probe the recent civilian killings in the Valley, initiating a process of structured dialogue with all stakeholders to find out solution to the Kashmir issue and use of pellet guns by security forces to meet any law and order situation be banned,” demands the resolution.

There will be discussion on these issues in the Assembly and the final word lies with the state government. But, it has surely brought back the focus on the unrest in the Valley that was triggered on July 8, 2016, after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani.