Need for demilitarizing the civilian areas of Kashmir: Mehbooba

Jammu, February 15(Scoop News) – Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti has said the tragedies like the latest one at Maloora which consumed three children of one family underline the need for demilitarizing not just the civilian areas but also the mindset that has been approaching Kashmir problem with force alone. She visited the bereaved family at Maloora in the outskirts of Srinagar today to express condolences to the parents of the deceased children. Accompanied by party general secretary Mohammad Dilawar Mir, District president Srinagar Mohd Ashraf Mir, District President Bandipur, Yaser Reshi , Vice District president Srinagar Nisar Ahmed Mandoo, and many other leaders of the party, Mehbooba interacted with a large number of mourners that had gathered on the occasion.

Mehbooba said it had been the consistent stand of her party that the people of the state should be allowed full liberties and freedom provided under a democratic polity in which security forces don’t breathe down their neck all the time. The tragedies like the death of three children or the recent killings in Chogul, Handwara or Sopore will continue to visit unless civil society is provided the free space that it deserves as a right.

Conveying her solidarity to the family Mehbooba said as a mother she could realize the pain and lasting sense of great loss inflicted on them. It was sad that the children in their innocence mistook ammunition for toys as a result of a grave default of government in not securing the area after some recent gunfights.   “The government knows only to philosophize tragedies resulting from its inefficiency, insensitivity and complete dependence on force without trying to improve its performance or feeling accountable for the death and destruction caused by its policies” she said.

Mehbooba urged the government to provide maximum compensation to the family so that it could at least partially rebuild their life. She said since the death of the children was a direct consequence of government negligence the family should be compensated beyond the normal scale of relief.

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