The Concerned Citizens Group has expressed its deep anguish at the killing of innocent civilians in Srinagar.
In a press release, the group has said that the government’s explanation about the Hyderpora incident is as clear as mud and complicates the issue further. The governor’s decision to order a magisterial enquiry is nothing more than an eyewash.
In its nine reports prepared after visits to Jammu Kashmir since 2016 the Group has been emphasizing the need for a political and not a military solution to the issue of J&K, as indeed many others including military commanders familiar with the situation there have been doing.
The statement reads- We have also emphasized that a political solution can come only out of a dialogue with all stakeholders. But our pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
“The government of India has tried everything from an extended governor’s rule to constitutional changes but nothing has worked for the simple reason that the people of J&K have not been taken into confidence,” they said.
The killings of civilians have demonstrated that the situation on the ground is far from normal as claimed by the government from time to time, Citizens group said in their statement.
“Incidents, such as the killing of innocent civilians, are bound to exacerbate it further.”
The group demanded that the magisterial enquiry should immediately be replaced by a judicial enquiry under the supervision of the Supreme Court of India in order to uncover the truth and restore people’s confidence in the rule of law.
They also demanded that the enquiry should be completed expeditiously. In the meanwhile, those guilty of perpetrating it should be placed under suspension. We appeal to Members of Parliament to visit JK as soon as possible and raise this issue in the ensuing session of Parliament.