Srinagar, June 21: The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, on Monday acknowledged that deaths of innocents have not stopped during his tenure but he was quick to add that his government had never tried to cover up these unfortunate incidents.
“We have succeeded in stopping needless deaths but a few unfortunate deaths do have taken place. Instead of trying to cover up these killings we have identified the perpetrators and punished them,” Omar told Greater Kashmir.
Referring to the killings of 17-year old Tufail Ahmed Matoo and Rafiq Bangroo, Omar said, “Enquiry has been ordered. Moment the guilty are identified and their involvement is established they will be dealt with sternly.”
The Chief Minister, however, described death of Javed Ahmed Malla, who was hit by a bullet in his neck near Noorbagh in old city on Sunday, as “suicidal.” “Youth tried to set ablaze a vehicle carrying armed troopers and they retaliated with bullets. I appeal youngsters to control their emotions so that such incidents are avoided.”
Omar described the present situation in the city as gloomy. “Government is really concerned about the circumstances that led to these deaths,” he said, “Efforts are on to identify miscreants who start trouble and then disappear from the spot. Media promptly highlights government’s failure but it never makes a mention of miscreants who vitiate the atmosphere.” Asked about the recent reshuffle in the police department, Omar said, “We have changed the city police chief to send a message to the police department that indiscipline won’t be tolerated. I don’t say that outgoing SSP was not a good officer but I believe that normal policing assignment is good for him.”
On the appointment of Ashiq Bukhari as the new city police chief, Omar said, “We want a tougher man to handle miscreants as well as the cops. He is an accomplished police officer. If he was able to deliver during PDP’s regime, I don’t see any reason for him to fail this time.”
Omar said that his government won’t allow “handful of people” to create trouble and take entire city as hostage. “People need to understand that a few people with vested interests are hell bent upon creating trouble,’ he added.
Asked why no policeman till date has been punished for firing teargas shells directly at the protesters, he said, “In such cases it is very difficult to establish the guilt, but we have devised a new strategy to identify and punish the policemen who indulge in firing teargas shells directly at the protesters.”
Omar said that had his government been insincere, it would have not got the paramilitary BSF commandant and his subordinate involved in the killing of Nishat boy Zahid Farooq punished, nor would have it taken up the killing of three innocents in a fake encounter at Machil with the union Home Ministry. “We are committed to uphold human rights but aberrations do take place sometimes,’ he added.
Omar acknowledged that presence of paramilitary CRPF troopers and their bunkers spark trouble. “I would have loved to send them back to barracks but conditions are not allowing us to do so, as militancy has not been wiped out completely. People need to understand that we are in a transitional phase and CRPF will be pulled out from the city after normalcy is established fully,” he added.
On the accusations about paramilitary CRPF troopers resorting to hooliganism and using excessive force against protesters, the Chief Minister said, “We have taken up these issues with CRPF’s top brass and these will be sorted out soon.”
Omar accused separatists of trying to keep the pot boiling for their survival. “First they called for one day strike as the day passed off peacefully today they extended the strike call for one more day. They want situation to remain tense and want people to suffer for their own survival,” Omar said.
The Chief Minister ruled out any threat to his government. “My government is stable and we have to face the situation,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST