SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday said 76 civilians and two policemen were killed in over five months of unrest in the Valley and ruled out ordering judicial probe into the civilian killings.
“The government has no proposal under consideration to constitute a judicial commission headed by a retired High Court judge to investigate civilian killings during the unrest,” Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who also holds the Home portfolio, said in a written reply in Legislative Assembly, which is in session in Jammu, winter capital of J&K.
She was responding to a question by independent MLA Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen.
The opposition National Conference and Congress and Kashmir based legislators have been demanding setting up of judicial commission to probe the civilian killings during the unrest.
The CM informed that 76 civilians and two policemen were killed during the over five months long unrest in the Valley triggered by killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and his two accomplices in an encounter with security forces on July 8.
She said killing of three HM militants triggered violent protests and law and order disturbances in Valley.
“The situation was exploited by some inimical elements on various platforms including social media to stoke passions and instigate violence by spreading "malicious and baseless information". However, due to persistent efforts of security forces/police and civil administration, the situation had shown improvement with number of incidents declining progressively and day-to-day activities gradually returning to normalcy,” added Mehbooba.
According to CM, only three cases pertaining to excessive use of force by security forces have been registered by police.
The three cases include killing of two civilians by PSO of ADC Ramban at Lethpora area of Pulwama district in South Kashmir on August 2, killing of a lecturer by security forces in Khrew area of South Kashmir on August 17 and recovery of pellet ridden body of ATM guard in Karan Nagar area of Srinagar on intervening night of August 2/3.
In response to a question by legislator about how many FIRs have been registered and how many have been booked under stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), the government said 2690 cases of stone pelting were registered in different police stations in the Valley.
“During the unrest, 2632 FIRs were registered, which are presently under investigation. 463 persons were booked under PSA. Out of 463, 145 were released and 318 are under detention at present,” it disclosed.
In response to a question by legislator about number of persons, who lost their eye sight due to pellets and tear gas shelling during the unrest, government said, “The information is being compiled.”
It, however, said all the injured were treated with due care and specialized treatment was provided whenever required. “Moreover, the Faculty of Ophthalmology alongwith staff devised effective management plan including effective primary repair and plan for conducting Vitrectomy/Retinal surgeries.”
The government, however, said paying compensation to the affected persons is under its consideration.