Srinagar, June 20: The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed profound sorrow and grief over the loss of human lives. 

 “Death of any innocent is always a matter of concern and pain for any responsible government. We are conscious of it and will take all appropriate steps to ensure that no human rights violation occurs,” the Chief Minister told a group of legislators from Srinagar city, who had called on him to discuss the present law and order situation in the old city. 

 The legislators included Minister for Rural Development, Ali Muhammad Sagar, advisor to Chief Minister Mubarak Gul, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Nasir Aslam Wani, Dr Mustafa Kamal, Shamima Firdous and Muhammad Yasin Shah, Irfan Ahmad Shah and Peer Afaq Ahmad.

 Omar assured them that his government was committed to protect lives and honour of the people. “I have already directed the security forces to strictly follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to ensure that no innocent lives are lost and no collateral damage is caused while dealing with law and order situations. However, the elements responsible for perpetrating the stone pelting and other such incidents will be dealt with severely,” he said, adding that a handful of people cannot be allowed to hold the entire population to ransom.

 Omar urged the people to cooperate with the state to maintain peace and order.

CM REVIEWS LAW AND ORDER SITUATION
 Later  the Chief Minister summoned the top brass of JK Police and paramilitary CRPF to take stock of the law and order situation in parts of  old city emerging due to loss of human lives.

 He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and directed the security agencies to strictly adhere to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) while dealing with law and order situations adding that all care should be taken to avoid human rights violation and collateral damage to the people.
 Omar said that government was committed to zero tolerance against any HR violation and the violators would not be allowed to go scot-free. “The perpetrators of stone pelting disturb law and order and exploit innocent people for vested interests. They shall be identified and booked”, he said adding that handful of people responsible for this practice cannot be allowed to disturb the normal life process and hamper the development and education of the students. 

 The meeting among others was attended by the Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Rural Development, Ali Muhammad Sagar, Minister for PHE, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, the Financial Commissioner, Home, Sameul Verghese, the Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, Additional Director General CID, K. Rajendra, ADG CRPF and other senior police officers.

OMAR ORDERS PROBE
 The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir to probe the killing of Javed Ahmed Malla and a submit a report within week’s time, wire agency PTI reported.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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