Srinagar, 31 August (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Monday expressed outrage over the indiscriminate use of pellet guns on mourners observing Youm-e-Ashura and condemned subjecting of Muharram Mourners to brute force by police on the day of Youm-e-Ashura, terming the action of police unwarranted, inhuman and discriminatory.

In a statement issued to KNS from party headquarters, Party’s Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani said the brutality on mourners in terms of arrests, torture, raining of pellets and baton charging is unacceptable and that the party unequivocally condemns it. “Denying people to peacefully perform religious activities is a new low which unfortunately has become a new normal in J&K. The administration was already aware of the forthcoming holy month of Muharram. On that account it was supposed to chalk out a programme with different religious groups, try to bring them onboard to ensure necessary safety measures in view of the prevailing pandemic situation. Despite the barbarism of police, the mourners didn’t indulge in any violent act. Actions like these are giving a lie to the commitments of the government on zero tolerance for human rights violations,” he said.

“Use of pellet guns, canes, teargas shells against mourners shows how heartless the civil administration and local police is. The brutality has left several mourners injured, some of whom have incurred fatal injuries on their vital parts. Even journalists and scribes were heckled and baton charged. Police on their part to contain the processions should have used persuasion, but as a norm it is not on the priority list of the government vis-à-vis J&K in particular Kashmir. On one hand the government is claiming everything is normal, why is it then resorting to such inhuman acts, why are people’s voices being muzzled? I, on behalf of my party condemn these brutalities,” he said.

Provincial President maintained that inter sectarian bonhomie has been a cultural mainstay of Kashmir and that the people of Kashmir have never allowed such divisive forces to break unity. “We demand through action against those elements who are trying to give the incident a sectarian color. Such elements should be unmasked, named and shamed. There is no place for such elements in our society. Our party demands a strong action against such mischievous elements,” he said.

Nasir also expressed outrage at the heckling of journalists by security forces and police, saying such actions on part of the government present a wrong picture of the country internationally.

Meanwhile he also flabbergasted the government inaction to rise up to the exigencies arisen after recent torrential rains that lashed parts of the valley for several days. Expressing dismay over the slothful attitude of the administration, Nasir said that recent downpour has resulted in inundation of several low-lying areas in Amira kadal and other adjoining localities causing immense trouble to people on different accounts. “The inundated routes in the city are causing immense trepidation to the commuters besides adding to the already widespread traffic mess. Amidst all this, the administration is yet to swing its ground staffers into action. The water pumping units, it is obvious from the widespread water logging in city areas have not been put to action to dewater the submerged areas, and overflowing drains,” he said. (KNS)