Gujjar Mahasaba demands judicial probe into Kashmir firing

Srinagar, Aug 13 (UNI) The state unit of the All India Gujjar Mahasaba (AIGM) has demanded a judicial probe into the firing by security forces and police in the Kashmir valley that left more than 20 dead and 500 others wounded during the past three days.

In a statement today, the president of the state unit Ishfaqul Rehman Poswal strongly condemned the firing by security forces on peaceful processionists in different parts of the valley.

Expressing solidarity with the people of the Kashmir valley who were demanding the opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route for free movement, he said, ''It is necessary in view of the economic blockade and attack on Muslims and Kashmiri drivers in Jammu by Hindu communal forces.'' Mr Poswal asked, ''The authorities ordered a judicial probe into Jammu firing, why the same can not be ordered for firing in Kashmir where more people have died and hundreds wounded. ?'' He said the Gujjar leaders were not allowed to meet the All Party Central delegation headed by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil recently.

This was done deliberately by the localadministration to keep the delegation members in dark about the real picture of Jammu where about 200 Muslim Gujjar structures were set on fire by the communal forces, Mr Poswal alleged.

He said the local administration had failed to protect the Gujjar nomads in the Jammu region.

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