Jammu and Kashmir government has blamed the separatists for instigating a cycle of violence in Kashmir Valley over the last four months following the death of three persons allegedly in a fake encounter in Machhil.
“Kashmir Valley has witnessed a cycle of violence instigated by the separatists over the alleged human rights violations with specific reference to the death of three persons, who were allegedly killed in a fake encounter at Machhil, Kupwara,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Home portfolio, said in a written reply to a question in the legislative assembly on Friday.
He said in the aftermath of the Machhil encounter, separatists launched a secessionist movement which led to the outbreak of violent protest all across the Kashmir Valley.
The Army has so far removed a commanding officer Colonel D.K. Pathania and suspended his second in command Major Upendra Singh in connection with the April 30 encounter.
The Chief Minister said the subsequent civilian casualties during the engagements between the protesters and the security forces flared up the situation.
Government put the number of civilian’s killed from May this year to September 21 at 98, saying 537 civilians were injured during the same period.
The Chief Minister said Government property worth cores of rupees has been damaged or set ablaze during the ongoing unrest in the valley.
“So far, as the tax collections are concerned, the impact of the disruption in normal trading activity on these collections and the resultant loss to the state exchequer shall be known at the end of October as traders are required to remit tax on quarterly basis,” he said while responding to queries pertaining to losses caused by the unrest.
