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Cabinet flays 'excessive use of force' at Ramban
Facing public outrage over the Gool Ramban civilian killings, the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet on Friday condemned what it described as "excessive use of force" by security forces.
Facing public outrage over the Gool Ramban civilian killings, the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet on Friday condemned what it described as "excessive use of force" by security forces.
The authorities had to clamp curfew across Kashmir Valley to ensure that the situation remained peaceful.
"We condemn the excessive use of force in Gool area of Ramban district and extend condolences to the bereaved families. We also sympathise with those injured in the firing," said a statement issued by the cabinet in Srinagar.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah, who chaired the cabinet meeting, announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the firing on Thursday. A government job will also be provided to a member of the family of those killed in the incident. The CM has held several meetings since Thursday to monitor the situation.
"It is unfortunate that in spite of costly lessons learnt in 2008 and 2010, some among us are determined to repeat past mistakes and use force against unarmed protesters. Such incidents risk throwing the entire peaceful atmosphere in jeopardy," he had said earlier.
Four people were killed and around 40 others received bullet injuries when security forces manning a BSF camp at Dharam area, 100 km south of Srinagar, allegedly opened fire at protesters assembled outside to protest thrashing of a local resident and alleged desecration of the Quran. The BSF said they fired when the protesters attempted to storm the camp.
The cabinet's censure to the BSF over "excessive use of force" could do little to pacify tempers, which are running high across the Valley after the casualties.
A strict curfew was enforced across the Valley since Friday morning. "We were coming out of mosques in the morning when the security forces chased us," said a resident of the old city.
Spools of concertina wires were unrolled on all major roads and bridges to restrict movement in Srinagar. Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Yasin Malik, Javaid Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had called for a shutdown and peaceful protests after Friday prayers. However, the security forces did not allow prayers at the old city's Jamia Masjid to keep protesters at bay. Most separatist leaders were either placed under house arrest or detained in police stations.
Two injured critically at Ganderbal
The CM's home constituency Ganderbal witnessed violent protests, which left two demonstrators critically injured. Both were hospitalised. Trouble started when residents of Kurhama, 30 km north east of Srinagar, tried to carry out protests against the killings and the alleged desecration. Local residents alleged that to disperse the protesters, security forces barged into colonies and damaged vehicles and windowpanes, fanning more anger. Police used tear smoke shells to quell those hurling stones.
There were incidents of sporadic clashes in Srinagar and parts of north and south Kashmir. No major violence was reported. "The situation, so far, is under control throughout Kashmir Valley, though some stone-pelting incidents have been reported," said a spokesperson for the Srinagar-based police.
Around a dozen protesters were injured in clashes in the Valley on Friday.
Police fired pellets to disperse protesters in Naidkhai area in north-east Kashmir's Bandipora district after Friday prayers. Two protesters were hit by pellets. A police station in Safapora was attacked by protesters, in which windowpanes were damaged.
