Jammu, Nov 22 (KNS): While urging the authorities to return the body of Amir Ahmad Magray of Gool in Ramban, the third civilian killed in Hyderpora last week without any delay, Sham Prasad Kesar Jammu Regional Secretary CPI (M) Monday demanded a judicial probe into the killing of three civilians.

In a statement issued to KNS, Sham Prasad Kesar said that as it has been proven beyond any doubt that Magray was a civilian, it is huge injustice with his family that they are not even allowed to perform his last rites. “When the body of two other civilians killed in Hyderpora were returned, why is the government reluctant to return Magray’s body to his family?,” he said.

“The civil society in Ramban and other areas must come forward and demand the return of the body of innocent Magray, who was in Srinagar to earn livelihood for his family. Killing innocent civilians and then even denying their bodies to their families is a huge injustice and against the basic values of humanity. Why are authorities afraid of even dead civilians?,” Prasad said.

“The government must ensure that those involved in the killing of unarmed civilians are brought to book and punished under the law. The probe ordered by the government by an Additional District Magistrate-rank officer in Hyderpora killings is not enough as it is difficult for a middle rung officer to prove something which is contrary to the government claims,” he said.

“We demand a judicial and time-bound probe into the gruesome incident which has shaken the whole Jammu and Kashmir. The least the government could do to restore the confidence of people in institutions is to punish the culprits of this heinous crime in a transparent and time-bound manner so that it can serve as deterrence to others in future,” he added. (KNS)