Patron of the Peoples Democratic Party Muzaffar Hussain Baig, National Conference leader advocate Nazir Ahmed Malik and president of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad on Wednesday condemned the custodial death of school principal Rizwan Ahmad Pandit of Awantipora, Pulwama.
In a statement PDP patron Muzaffar Hussain Baig expressedshock and agony over the incident. “This is an unacceptable development andmust be investigated in a transparent, time bound manner. Exemplary punishmentmust be handed out to the killers of this young man,” Baig said. North zoneNational Conference secretary advocate Nazir Malik in a statement said that”the soul of Kashmir and NC is bleeding over the tragic episode involvingRizwan Pandit, who was picked up by security agencies, and died in the policecustody.”
“The manner in which this killing spree of innocentKashmiri was started by Congress regimes and taken forward by the PDP- BJPgovernment has destroyed Kashmir. We are pained to see such brutal treatmentmeted out to our youth. “
President, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SheikhAshiq Ahmad, termed the death of Rizwan Pandit in police custody as “coldblooded murder.” “Under the garb of fighting terror, the state seems to havedeclared a war on the civilian population. Repeated provocations, brutalizationand killings of unarmed civilians suggests that decisions have been taken topush Kashmir into a situation of chaos and anarchy.”
Sheikh Ashiq saidthat “the stakeholders of different political ideologies need to condemn butalso take responsibility for a joint response in this regard. Murder of unarmedcivilians cannot be business as usual. The business community would be lookingforward to a united effort from the society for ensuring that the course ofjustice is not impeded and guilty pay for shedding innocent blood.”
Prominent political scientist Prof Gull Muhammad Wani while condemning the killing in a statement said, “Every innocent death and more so in police custody diminishes the possibility of life in Kashmir. Time bound enquiry to be followed by exemplary punishment to culprits can douse the flames ut nothing can compensate the loss of a person who was a science teacher as well. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.”