More articles by

Tariq Bhat
Tariq Bhat

JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Shopian killings: FIR against Army to be taken to logical conclusion, says CM

PTI8_15_2016_000246B Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti | PTI

Rejecting the demand of its alliance partner BJP that the FIR filed against the Army for killing two young boys in Shopian be withdrawn, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said the investigations into the killings will be completed within 15 days.

''The investigations into the killings would be taken to its logical conclusions,'' Mehbooba told JK Assembly during discussions on the adjournment motion on the killings.

Her statement in the Assembly is interpreted as a snub to BJP legislator R.S. Pathania who had demanded that the Army not be named in the FIR.

Mehbooba told the House the civilian killings impede the restoration of the political process in the state.

''An FIR was lodged against the accused by deputy commissioner soon after the incident and a magistrate was asked to probe the incident and come up with a report in 15 days,'' she said.

The chief minister said she had discussed the killings with defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman who assured her that appropriate measures would be taken.

''Army, as an institution, has done a good job but the black sheep need to be identified and weeded out to enhance its grace,'' she said.

“Incidents like Shopian remind us that we cannot afford confrontation at any level and there is an urgent need to engage in a meaningful dialogue at all levels,'' she said.  

Mehbooba said dialogue has no alternative within the state and between India and Pakistan as people of the state are victims of the two countries' acrimony.

The adjournment motion was moved by CPI (M) leader M.Y. Tarigami.

On Saturday, Muhammad Sagar, who initiated the discussion on the motion, demand the arrest of the Army men involved in the killing of the two boys.

He said civilian killings contribute to the loss of political space for the mainstream in Kashmir. He also called for maximum restraint.

The leader of the opposition, Omar Abdullah, stressed the need for a permanent solution to Kashmir issue.

“This house should rise above party politics, speak in one voice and introspect why such tragic incidents are taking place frequently,'' he said. ''Now that FIR has been lodged in the Shopian incident, the police should be allowed to do their job as names of accused have been mentioned in the FIR.”

This browser settings will not support to add bookmarks programmatically. Please press Ctrl+D or change settings to bookmark this page.

Related Reading