Massacare of innocent people in Jammu region inhuman act, Geelani

Srinagar, May 2 (UNI) The massacare of innocent people in Jammu region yesterday was an ''in human act committed by people who belong to no religion or region,'' chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani said here today.

Talking to reporters, he expressed shock and anguish over the incident and said the act was "inhuman".

''Islam does not allow the killing of any innocent person,'' he said adding, in the holy book of Quran it is clearly stated that killing innocent people of any religion is like killing the entire humanity.

He said it was duty of the Muslims to protect their minority brethren. However, he alleged that in the presence of security forces with special powers, Muslims themselves do not feel secure.

Mr Geelani said to stop recurrance of such incident the Kashmir issue should be resolved once and for all.

He said besides judical probe into these killings, the government should allow Amnesty International and Asia watch to conduct an inquiry so that the perpetrators of these inhuman acts are exposed.

Mr Geelani recalled the probes ordered by the government in such similar incidents in the past and alleged nothing has come out from these investigations.

Expressing concern over providing weapons to Village Defence Committee (VDC) and members of a particular community in Jammu region, he said these would be used against majority community.

How can the government ensure that weapons given to members of minority community and Ikhwanis are not misused, he added.

He said a HC delegation led by him will visit the affected villages in Doda and meet the family members of the deceased.

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