Says have taken up both incidents with GoI to enquire in time bound and transparent manner
Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that Kathua and Baramulla Incidents are highly unfortunate and he has taken up both incidents with government of India.
Omar, according to his statement, insisted the GoI to enquired the incidents in time bound and transparent manner.
Taking on to micro-blogging platform X, CM Omar wrote, ” I have seen the reports of excessive use of force & harassment of Makhan Din in police custody in Billawar leading to his suicide and the death of Waseem Ahmed Malla, shot by the army under circumstances that are not entirely clear.”
He added, “Both these incidents are highly unfortunate and should not have happened. J&K will never be completely normalised and free of terror without the cooperation of & partnership with the local population. Incidents like these risk alienating the very people who we need to carry with us on the road to complete normalcy.”
“I have taken up these incidents with the Union Government & insisted that both incidents are inquired into in a time bound, transparent manner. The Government in J&K will also order its own inquiries,” reads the post.
Earlier, in Kathua’s Billawar area, 25-year-old Makhan Din from Perody was reportedly detained on allegations of being an Over Ground Worker (OGW). He, according to reports and claims made by PDP leaders, including Mehbooba Mufti and Iltija Mufti, was subjected to brutal torture while in custody, allegedly forced into a confession, and later found dead under mysterious circumstances.
Following the incident, authorities sealed off the area and suspended internet services, escalating panic among residents.
In a separate incident in Baramulla’s Sopore, a civilian was shot dead by the Army after allegedly being chased for over 23 kilometers when the driver didn’t stop at a check point. Reacting to the incident, Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter, Iltija Mufti, expressed shock over what she termed as the ‘unbridled impunity’ of security forces.
Taking to social media platform X, Iltija wrote, “Shocking that after a civilian killing in Kathua dubbed as an ‘OGW’, another civilian from Sopore was shot dead by the Army. How strange that after chasing the truck for over 23 kms, they claim to have fired at the tyres but somehow misfired at him instead. Are Kashmiri lives so cheap? How long will you justify this unbridled impunity by pointing everyone with the needle of suspicion?”
The twin killings have sparked outrage across political and civil society circles, with calls for transparency and justice growing louder.
Meanwhile, Police urged people to maintain peace and order. The police said that it received information that an RR party had established a Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) to intercept potential threats.
The police further stated that a suspicious civil truck was spotted moving at high speed. Despite repeated warnings, the vehicle did not stop and instead accelerated past the check post. Troops pursued the truck for over 23 km and, as per protocol, fired at the tyres to deflate them, forcing the vehicle to halt at Sangrama Chowk.
The statement added, “A detailed search was conducted, and the injured driver was immediately evacuated to GMC Baramulla, where he was declared dead.”
The police said that an FIR has been registered in police station Baramulla. The truck has been moved to the nearest police station for thorough search. Post mortem proceedings have been initiated to ascertain the cause of death.”
“We urge the public to maintain peace and refrain from spreading rumors or misinformation regarding this incident,” the statement reads.
“Any attempt to disrupt public order or spread false information will be dealt with strictly,” said the police.
