SC says prevent attacks against Kashmiri people
Centre, states, union territories directed to ensure safety
NEWDELHI:THE Supreme Court on Friday directed all states and union territories to ensure that Kashmiris, particularly students, feel secure, amid reports from several parts of the country that they were being targeted over the February 14 terror attack in Pulwama where 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers were killed.
Students from Kashmir bore the brunt of the backlash that followed the attack, with hundreds fleeing cities such as Dehradun and Ambala after being threatened by right-wing activists who, in some cases, resorted to physical intimidation and forced landlords to evict the victims.
Chief secretaries and heads of police in all states must take prompt action to prevent “incidents of assault, threat, social boycott and such other egregious acts against the Kashmiris including students... and other minorities”, the bench, including Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, said in the order.
Attorney general KK Venugopal told the court the Union government issued advisories to all states over the issue previously, but the judges ask the counsel to reiterate the directive. Late on Friday, the MHA issued a directive reiterating an order on February 16 for Kashmiris to be ensured security across country.
On February 14, Pulwama resident and JEM operative Adil Ahmad Dar detonated a car bomb next to a CRPF bus, leading to the deaths of all on-board.
The incident, the deadliest attack on security forces in the Jammu and Kashmir region in three decades of insurgency, triggered anger across the country, prompting protest marches and angry demonstrations against JEM and Pakistan, the country where it is based.
Kashmiri students and businesses were targeted in several states, while at some places, police booked some Kashmiris for “anti-india” social media posts allegedly praising the attack. Earlier this week, a Pakistani prisoner was killed after a brawl in a prison in Jaipur, but jail authorities said it may not be linked to Pulwama.
The top court said nodal officers must be appointed to look into complaints of persecution and attacks against people .