Lift curfew and curb use of force in J&K: NC

National Conference has appealed to the administration to provide relief to the people who are facing acute shortage of essentials. Spl Coverage: Amarnath land row

The National Conference on Wednesday demanded lifting of curfew and curb on use of force to save precious lives in Jammu and Kashmir.

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"We appeal to the administration led by Governor N N Vohra to lift curfew forthwith and provide relief to the people who are facing acute shortage of essentials," senior National Conference leaders and former ministers Mian Altaf Ahmad, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Mustafa Kamal and provincial president, Kashmir, Mehboob Beig said in a joint statement in Srinagar.

They said continued curfew in the valley and parts of Jammu region have caused immense problems to the people ... Non-availability of essential commodities and medicines have made their lives miserable.

There is a shortage of drugs and milk powder and those stranded in hospitals have no money to take their patients home, they said and urged government to provide free transportation to the patients discharged.

They also demanded complete lifting of "economic blockade" to rush essential commodities to the valley.

Holding the previous Congress-PDP coalition government responsible for the present mess, the NC leaders urged government not to use excessive force and advocated compensation to those killed in the agitation.

"We stress upon security forces and police to avoid use of excessive force and save precious lives," they said and demanded immediate release of arrested leaders.

"The continued detention (of leaders) can spoil the moves for restoration of peace and might prolong the agitation," they said.