Mehbooba: Bring back youth who left homes to join militancy
BATS FOR PEACE Adds Pak will have to stop cross-border terrorism
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday urged police to bring back youth who have left their homes to join militancy while promising justice in the deaths of three civilians during the ongoing Kashmir unrest.
Addressing the audience at the Police Commemoration Day event in Srinagar, Mehbooba spoke at length on how teenagers were being “used” as shields during the ongoing unrest and her willingness to ban the muchcriticised pellet gun and at some point in future revoke the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
She urged the security forces to facilitate the return of local youth who have joined militant ranks into the mainstream, instead of killing them in encounters.
“Make them a part of the mainstream, give them bats, balls and good education, instead of guns,” she said.
Talking about the three cases where security forces allegedly fired even when the protests had subsided, Mehbooba said, “Junaid Ahmed who died of pellet injuries early this month had gone back after pelting stones. I have taken up his case with the home minister and want an inquiry into his death.” Mehbooba has already demanded a “time-bound probe” into the death of the minor.
The CM also promised justice in the cases of Shabir Ahmad Mangoo — a 30-year-old contractual lecturer in south Kashmir who died after being allegedly beaten by soldiers during a raid — and Riyaz Ahmad Shah, an ATM guard in Srinagar, whose family alleged that “CRPF jawans had killed him in coldblood” by pellets.
PITCHES FOR DIALOGUE
Pitching for dialogue between India and Pakistan, the chief minister said the neighbouring country should help in creating a conducive atmosphere for it. Mehbooba said her government wants to ban the use of pellet guns as a crowd control measure and sought cooperation of police. “If there is an injury on you, let it be, but if we save a youth’s eyes or arms from pellet guns, then I think it will be your biggest sacrifice. Because this (protests) will not continue forever, it is temporary,” she said.
The chief minister said while the police had exhibited patience during the last three months of unrest in the Valley, there were some mistakes which warrant action. She said once peace is established in the state, she will ask PM Narendra Modi to begin a dialogue process.