SRINAGAR — The family of the 26-year old Saleem Malik who was allegedly killed by the government forces during a cordon and search operation have asked that why was their son killed in cold blood and why no action has been initiated against those who ‘pumped 7 bullets into him.’
The family is still in shock, narrating the killing episode to everyone who visit their house to express solidarity with them.
“My son was fond of raring sheep and pigeons and never in his life had picked up a stone in his hand. Why was he killed when he was not a militant and had clean policerecord. Why was he killed when no militant was present in the area and there was no encounter there,” questions Muhammad Yaqoob Malik, the father of slain youth who according to him was brutally gunned down by government forces.
While divulging details of the incident, Yaqoob said that after watching cricketmatch on Wednesday night, all the family members went to sleep. “For morning prayers I as usual came down stairs for ablution, but found men in uniform outside. I along with my son offered prayers inside the room. My son Salim went outside to close the door of sheep shed that he found open. As he tried to close the door, the government forces without asking him anything pumped bullets into his body. My son had received at least 7 bullets in his belly. The forces personnel fired at least 50 rounds at a time as if they were confronting militants,” he said.
The father of the slain youth said that if it was a search operation, it was the duty of the Police officials to enter into my house for questioning. “Neither any militant was present in the area nor was there any encounter as was claimed by Indian media,” he said and demanded stern punishment for the killers.
“How can they kill any innocent young man without any justification? It is these killings which force youth of Kashmir to join militancy. It was a cold blooded murder,” he said.
The killing of Muhammad Salim was condemned by both Hurriyat leaders and mainstream politicians. Joint Resistance Leadership has called for a shutdown on Friday against the killing while PDP senior leader and former finance minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also termed the killing as ‘a cold blooded murder’.
Bukhari said the killing of Muhammad Saleem Malik is a heinous crime which is unacceptable to any civilized society. He demanded an impartial probe at the highest level so that the culprits of this brutal killing are booked and brought to justice.
Meanwhile, a Police spokesperson said that government forces acting on a credible input cordoned a cluster of houses in Noor Bagh area of Srinagar city, where the hiding militants fired indiscriminately resulting in the death of an individual identified as Saleem Malik son of Mohammad Yaqoob Malik.”
However Police said they have initiated an investigation in all the cases.
‘Black sheep want to shatter peace of City' PDP senior leader and former finance minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday strongly condemned the civilian killing in Noorbagh area of Srinagar, terming it as ‘a cold blooded murder’.
In a statement issued here, Bukhari said the killing of Mohammad Saleem Malik during a cordon-and-search-operation launched by the government forces in Qamarwari area is a heinous crime which is unacceptable to any civilized society. He demanded an impartial probe at the highest level so that the culprits of this brutal killing are booked and brought to justice.
The former minister observed that unfortunately some vested interests in security forces have become trigger happy and feel emboldened after every such incident in Kashmir. “Like in any other part of the State, such forces with nefarious designs, want to shatter the semblance of peace and tranquillity in Srinagar City,” Bukhari remarked.
The PDP senior leader opined that the human life in Kashmir has been devalued by the callousness of black sheep in security forces who seem to have got a license to kill the innocent civilians and draw a sadistic pleasure out of it.
“The latest cold-blooded murder in Qamarwari is in clear contravention to the assertion made by the Governor S.P Malik who wanted to build trust in Kashmir and had asked security forces to adhere to Standard Operating Procedure in all their operations in J&K,” Bukhari observed.
He said it seems that some elements in Police and security forces in J&K are enjoying atrocities committed on the people and the personality and attitude of such elements have become vicious.
“Srinagar City seemed to be insulated to such happenings and flames emanating from turmoil hit South Kashmir. But incidents like Qamarwari killing are a direct result of attempts being made by some vested interests to shatter peace and subvert local economy in the City,” Bukhari said while demanding a stern action against the culprits behind the Qamarwari civilian killing.
He appealed all right-thinking people to join their ranks to prevent such vested interests from carrying out their nefarious designs which cause fear and insecurity among common people and squeeze their economy for their own interests.
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