Srinagar, Oct 4: Virtually acknowledging its failure to take action against the culprits involved in triggering violence during the recent communal clashes in Kishtwar district of Chenab Valley, the J&K Government Friday said 10 persons including some state-backed Village Defence Committee (VDC) members—involved in killing of Lassa Khanday and injuring four others in Paddar region of the district—are still absconding. This is for the first time since the outbreak of clashes that the government has admitted the role of VDCs in fomenting trouble in the area. The revelation came to fore in response to the Calling Attention Motion of PDP legislature party leader, Naeem Akthar in the Legislative Council today. Responding to the notice, Minister for Rural Development Ali Muhammad Sagar informed the House that police have registered cases against 14 persons in connection with the killing of Lassa Khanday and injuries to four members of a particular community during the clashes. “Cases FIR No: 16/ 2013 U/S 307, 336, 147, 148, 427, 34 RPC and FIR No: 17/2013 U/S 302, 307, 364, 427, 34, 147, 148 RPC were registered at Police Station, Atholi and investigation (has been) taken up to investigate the role of the accused persons including some VDC members,” the Minister said. The Minister said a charge-sheet in FIR No: 16/2013 was presented in the court of law against eight accused. “Out of these, four accused (including VDC members) have been arrested so far and the remaining four accused persons are absconding, against whom proceedings U/S 512 CrPC have been initiated,” he said. Referring to the FIR registered in the killing of Khanday, Sagar said six accused persons stand nominated in the FIR, but all of them are absconding. “The investigation of the case is in progress and the case will be challaned after the arrest of the accused,” he said. Giving details about Paddar violence, the Minister said during the skirmishes between the two communities on August 10, four persons sustained injuries. “Members of one community again attacked the members of other community when they were evacuating injured persons near the helipad, but were rescued by the police. One Lassa Khanday, attendant of one of the injured persons, went missing during the night and his body was found in area on August 11, 2013 which flared up the situation in the area and stray incidents took place throughout the day,” he said. PDP legislator also raised the issue of missing of one person in Paddar region and demanded his whereabouts. Pertinently, clashes broke out between two communities in Kishtwar town on Eid-ul-Fitr (9 August) this year, claiming three lives. Following the clashes, curfew was imposed in Kishtwar and several other towns of Jammu province for several days.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Oct 2013 04:01:06 +0000
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