Jammu,February 10 (Scoop News) – “We want to set an example by handing over stern punishment to the BSF personnel accused of firing and killing the young boy so that it also serves as warning to others that the J&K Government will not spare anyone involved in innocent killing”, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today asserted.
Omar said that a water tight case on the basis of solid evidences and proofs would be framed against the accused so that he gets severe punishment.
The Chief Minister, was flanked by the Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani and his Political Advisor, Devender Rana.
Omar expressed gratitude to the Union Home Minister for his support to the State Government in identifying the accused and said that he had taken up the issue with P. Chidambaram at the sidelines of Chief Ministers Conference at New Delhi, the other day who had assured full support to the State Government in the matter. “Before talking to you on the subject, I rang up the Union Home Minister to express my thanks”, he added.
The Chief Minister also referred to the efforts made by his political colleagues, State Police and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir in speedy investigation and identification of the accused. He also appreciated the role of locals of Brain, Nishat especially the family of the deceased young boy allowing the Government to investigate and identify the accused to charge-sheet him for punishment.
Omar said that he has made it clear a number of times that instead of making slogans and raising false cry over the issues, he quietly takes actions to solve the problems and ensure justice. This also nullifies the accusations leveled against the Government. “In this particular case by swiftly identifying the accused, which is a record in 20 years of militancy in the State, we have replied many questions raised against the Government, but the full reply will be when the accused gets severe punishment through the court of law”, he added.
Abdullah expressed the hope that the speedy action of the Government would, by and large, calm down the sentiments and have salutary effect on the people. “Law and order problems put the general public to inconvenience, effecting largely students, small traders, labourers, poor shopkeepers etc”, he said adding that masses in general and right thinking people particularly are against spiral of law and order situation. “Only vested interests are benefited in such situations”, he observed.
Omar said that when hartals and lockouts are coupled with acts of damaging the property and endangering the life of people, a democratic means of protests become unfortunate tool of violence. Stating that the Government is determined to maintain law and order, he called for general support from the people and political parties in this regard. He said that the Government has inputs and evidences that stone-pelting is due to money pumped by vested interests rather than any ideological commitment.
In the process of investigations, he said, “we have nabbed some culprits who are being interrogated at present, whereunder it has been prima facie established that stone pelters are being financed. Investigation is on and the Government will soon come out with facts and unveil the sponsors of stone pelting, he added.
On the revocation of AFSPA, Abdullah said that the Act cannot be seen in connection with the law and order situations. “It is necessarily related to the militancy and law and order problems which take place even in the states where there is no militancy”, he said adding that it is for this reason the State Government has sought removal of AFSPA application from the areas in the State where there is no militancy.
On surrender and rehabilitation policy for militants to encourage their retune to the normal life, including those stranded across LoC and borders, the Chief Minister said that a pragmatic policy to this effect is need of the hour and the State Government has proposed the same to the Union Home Ministry after taking into consideration all pros and cons of any misuse. “The Centre and the State Government will work out such a policy as would not hamper the national interests at any level but pave way for the militants to return to normal life. This policy will also stop their recycling into militancy. There are reports that many youngsters are returning to J&K via some countries on fake papers and then disappear. We have to provide a foolproof surrender and rehabilitation policy for the militants”, he said, maintaining that economic rehabilitation of the surrendered militants will be the part of this policy. “Once you have a policy they will come forward and return to the normal life”, he said.
On quiet diplomacy, the Chief Minister said that his Government will continue to facilitate dialogue between the Centre and all shades of the opinion in the State.
On Shopian incident, Omar said that the matter is sub-judice and the Government will act as per the directions of the High Court.
Replying to a question on the pace of development and spending of funds on projects in the State, the Chief Minister said that despite late sanctioning of annual plan and many other difficulties the State this year witnessed highest spending as compared to last fiscal. Citing the example of PMGSY, he said that during this fiscal more kilometer of roads have been added as compare to last five years adding encouraging achievements in other sectors have been registered equally.