The Jammu Muslim Civil Society on Saturday demanded a stern action against the “anti-social elements” who wreaked havoc in several parts of the district on Friday.
The members, including Sheikh Shakeel, advocate, Prabodh Jamwal, editor-in-chief Kashmir Times; Masood Choudhary, former vice-chancellor BGSBU; former deputy commissioner Khalid hussain; Prof Shujaat Khan, general secretary Anjuman-e-Imamia, and Javaid Iqbal Sheikh, asked Governor Satya Pal Malik, to ensure that the people who indulged in vandalism on Friday are brought to justice.
Addressing reporters, Sheikh Shakeel said, “We strongly condemn the incident that happened in Lethpora, Pulwama on Thursday and we express solidarity with the families of the slain soldiers, but we also condemn what happened across Jammu on Friday.”
He added, “Since ages, Jammu has been the epitome of love, brotherhood and communal harmony, but what some miscreants did across Jammu, including Gujjar Nagar, Residency Road, Janipur, Narwal, Rajnder Bazaar on Friday, in front of the police is highly condemnable. They vandalized property, torched cars and pelted stones. This has indeed created fear psychosis among the minorities in Jammu.”
While taking a dig at the administration, he said, “In the sensitive areas, hardly any policemen or security personnel were deployed. We want to ask the governor and his administration to ensure that the security lapses that happened on Friday are not repeated and the guilty are brought to book.”
Prof Shujaat Khan said, “The aim of today’s presser was to send a message through the media to the people. We request the people of the entire district to identify the miscreants and ensure that it is not repeated. We also request the governor and his administration to put the anti-social elements behind bars.”
Meanwhile, while reiterating the need of stern action against the guilty, Prabodh Jamwal, said, “We strongly condemn what happened in Pulwama on Thursday and we also condemn the incidents in Jammu on Friday. We firmly believe that any loss of life or property in Jammu and Kashmir state is unjustified. We strongly stand with the people who staged peaceful protests against the incident and we are willing to participate in them, but we condemn the violence, vandalism and arson that happened.”