Srinagar, Oct 2: While the army repeatedly washes its hands off the present unrest, the government has pin-pointed that the present turmoil is the offshoot of fake encounter killings of three innocent civilians by the military in Machil sector of north Kashmir in April this year.
In a written reply to a question raised by senior BJP leader Chaman Lal Gupta in the Legislative Assembly about the reasons behind the turmoil, Minister in-charge Home responds: “Since April, Kashmir Valley witnessed a cycle of violence instigated by the separatists over the alleged human rights violations with specific reference to the death of three persons who were allegedly killed in a fake encounter at Machil, Kupwara.”
 In July this year, police filed a charge-sheet against eight army men including a Colonel and two Majors besides five personnel for killing three innocent civilians— Reyaz Ahmad, Muhammad Shafi and Shahzad Ahmad—for monetary and service awards.
 The accused army men were booked under various sections of RPC including 302 (murder), 364 (Kidnapping or abducting), 120B (Concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment) and 34 (act done with common intention).
 In response to another question by the BJP legislator about appointment of Commission to pin-point failure of law and order authority, the government has asserted that a Commission of Enquiry has been ordered into the 17 cases of civilian casualties with effect from 11 June 2010 upto 29 July 2010.
 “District Magistrate Anantnag (Islamabad) has also ordered an enquiry in the firing incident at SK Pora Anchidoa on 29-06-2010.”
 “19 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered at various police stations against the security forces where allegations of unprovoked firing or use of excessive force were alleged.”
 In response to another query about the details of loss incurred on state exchequer due to current unrest, the reply said that properties worth crores of rupees have been damaged or burnt. “So far tax collection are concerned, the impact of the disruption in normal trading activity on these collections and the resultant loss to the state exchequer, bit would be known only after getting the details of receipt during the month of October as traders are required to remit the tax on quarterly basis.”
 About the number of persons killed or injured, the government says that 98 civilians have been killed since May up to September 21. “537 civilians and 1274 CRPF and 2747 police personnel have received injuries.”

Lastupdate on : Sat, 2 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 2 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST