VSK TN
REPORT ON KISHTWAR RIOTS:
Dr
Jitendra Singh
Jitendra Singh
· On the occasion of Eid this
morning, a gathering of over thousand people belonging to majority Muslim
Community gathered at the famous ground in the heart of Kishtwar town to offer
prayers.
morning, a gathering of over thousand people belonging to majority Muslim
Community gathered at the famous ground in the heart of Kishtwar town to offer
prayers.
· Suddenly, gun shots began to be
fired alongwith stone-pelting from the crowd and this led to panic and chaos.
fired alongwith stone-pelting from the crowd and this led to panic and chaos.
· Several members of the minority
Hindu community suffered injuries as a consequence and two deaths have been
confirmed so far.
Hindu community suffered injuries as a consequence and two deaths have been
confirmed so far.
· In the ensuing anarchic situation,
people who had gathered in the ground were joined by hundreds of other members
from majority community who began to loot and torch the shops and business
establishments belonging to minority Hindu community, in the process also
causing injuries to minority community shopkeepers and owners of business establishment.
One of the famous markets called Amar Market has been totally gutted.
people who had gathered in the ground were joined by hundreds of other members
from majority community who began to loot and torch the shops and business
establishments belonging to minority Hindu community, in the process also
causing injuries to minority community shopkeepers and owners of business establishment.
One of the famous markets called Amar Market has been totally gutted.
· Several workers of BJP have also
suffered injuries who include party’s former Kishtwar District President Capt.
(Retd.) Hukum Chand.
suffered injuries who include party’s former Kishtwar District President Capt.
(Retd.) Hukum Chand.
· Till late afternoon, there
was total collapse of administration. Police and other civilians authorities
were nowhere in sight.
was total collapse of administration. Police and other civilians authorities
were nowhere in sight.
· Although the administration
claimed to have called in the army, on the ground its presence was limited to a
single column of armed forces.
claimed to have called in the army, on the ground its presence was limited to a
single column of armed forces.
· Meanwhile, there was a total
communal riot situation with members of majority community holding the town to
ransom.
communal riot situation with members of majority community holding the town to
ransom.
. Only late in the
evening, Army patrolling came into effect.
evening, Army patrolling came into effect.
. All along, MoS Home Sajad
Kichloo (from National Conference) had been camping at Kishtwar. Either he was
incapable of handling the situation or was clandestinely in connivance to
promote polarization on communal lines in a bid to consolidate his vote bank in
a particular community as the election time draws closer.
Kichloo (from National Conference) had been camping at Kishtwar. Either he was
incapable of handling the situation or was clandestinely in connivance to
promote polarization on communal lines in a bid to consolidate his vote bank in
a particular community as the election time draws closer.
. Late in the evening, Deputy
Chief Minister called an All-Party meeting asking for cooperation from the
Opposition. In response BJP participants registered their dissent and walked
out.
Chief Minister called an All-Party meeting asking for cooperation from the
Opposition. In response BJP participants registered their dissent and walked
out.