Srinagar, Nov 30: The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party and separatist organizations today demanded a judicial probe into the killing of three youth at Qamarwari area here on Monday.
 Police however said that the trio were militants and were killed in the shootout in which one policeman was also slain. 
 In a statement, NPP said, Kashmir Panthers Council convention was held here with its chairman Prof Bhim Singh in chair. “The participating district presidents passed a resolution seeking the probe into the killings,” the statement said. 
 Meanwhile, referring to the killing of three youth and a policeman in a shootout at Qamarwari, Peoples Democratic Party president, Mehbooba Mufti said “the so-called encounter was conducted in highly questionable circumstances.” “This is another attempt to tarnish image of Kashmir”, she said and pointed out that even some leaders of ruling party had questioned the encounter.
 Concerned over the “unabated killing of innocent people” in the Valley, she said the ruling National Conference had again “brought back the era of terror which was prevalent from 1996 to 2002.”
 Addressing a convention of district committees of Pulwama and Shopian, Mehbooba said “The PDP led government had established peace and tranquility in the State and restored dignity and honour of the people.”
 She, however, regretted that NC led regime had “spoiled the atmosphere created by the PDP led government.”
 “During the last two years NC has let loose a reign of terror in the state in general and Kashmir in particular and many innocent people have been killed”, she said and adding that “after completing first circle of terror in which 111 people were killed the regime has started another round in the name of militancy.” 

Geelani for inquiry into killings 
 Demanding probe by an impartial agency into the killings, Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani said “contradicting statements of eyewitnesses and police has raised doubt on the shootout.”
 “The role of police has been doubtful from beginning and many such incidents have been exposed in past putting big question mark on their credibility,” he said in a statement.
 Geelani said if police statement would be taken true, was killing them last option? “They were only three and could have been arrested as police claimed of deploying cops everywhere,” he said.
 Meanwhile, Hurriyat (M) also condemned the killings and termed the act as “state-sponsored terrorism.”
 In a statement, it said “three youth were killed in fake encounter in broad- daylight by forces.”

Jama’at, Shah hail Shariq for speaking truth
 Concern over the killings, the Jama’at-e-Islami J&K has demanded a judicial probe into, what it termed, the “dubious incident.”
 “This incident has become suspicious as the available information regarding the victims indicate their innocence which is also confirmed by the statement of NC leader and Parliament Member, Sharif-ud-Din Shariq. Shariq described the encounter as fake and levelled allegations against the policemen involved in the incident and those declaring it as a shootout with militants,” Jama’at said.
 “Though Shariq was compelled to speak the truth because one of the slain youth happened to be a son of his close relative but “still Jama’at praises him for speaking the truth despite being an MP.”
 Meanwhile, Quoting MP, Sharif-ud-Din Shariq’s statement that the youth were killed allegedly in a fake encounter, Democratic Freedom Party president, Shabir Ahmad Shahsaid it was for the first time that any mainstream politician had spoken the truth. “Hundreds of such incidents had taken place in the last 20 years and Qamarwari one was not an exception,” he said.
 Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Riffat Fatima has termed the encounter as a “drama” and said the incident was “part of a conspiracy hatched by Police to carry out genocide of Kashmiris.”
 J&K People’s League chairman, Muhammad Farooq Rehmani has condemned the Qamarwari killings.
 Blaming the armed forces and police for “worsening situation” in J&K, Democratic Liberation Party chairman, Hashim Qureshi alleged that the “forces were staging Qamarwari like encounters to get medals, cash reward and promotions.”
 Demanding high level probe into the killings, MLA Langate, Er. Rashid said this “mysterious gunfight puts question mark on state government’s claim about stopping rights violations.” “Those involved in the incident should be dealt sternly, “he said.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 1 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST