While the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has decided to conduct an independent probe into the blast at the encounter site at Kulgam on Sunday, which left seven civilians dead, the CPI(M) on Thursday questioned whether the security forces violated the standard operating procedure (SOP) laid down in 2012.
CPI(M) MLA M.Y. Tarigami said the incident in Kulgam “has deeply shaken the whole of Kashmir”.
“Legitimate question of the people is whether this tragedy could have been averted. The SOP of 2012 makes it mandatory on security forces to sanitise the encounter site before leaving. Why was it not done in Larro, Kulgam? Strong voices are emerging in and outside the State that a credible enquiry should be held to fix the responsibility so that such tragedies could be avoided in future,” said Mr. Tarigami.
He asked authorities to “issue clear cut direction to the law enforcing agencies to desist from using excessive force”.
“The Centre, led by the BJP, continues to refuse to draw lessons from the previous mistakes. It has compounded the problem in the past four years and thereby deepened the alienation and mistrust among the people further,” said Mr. Tarigami.
He said the Centre’s “disastrous policy is alienating more sections of the population and driving a number of youth to militancy”.
Meanwhile, an official said SHRC chairman Justice Bilal Nazki has sought a report from the authorities on the Kulgam blast within four weeks. He has also directed officials to “carry out an on-spot investigation”.
