J-K CM urges people to protest against militancy

Srinagar, May 24 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has urged people to protest against the killings of innocent persons by the militants in the state.

''It is very sad that people remain silent when militants kill people, including women and children, by hurling grenades, detonating Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) at crowded places,'' Mr Azad said.

The Chief Minister said whenever there was an incident involving Human Rights (HR) violation by security forces, people of that area immediately took to streets.

''We are not justifying the HR violation by the security forces as we have already issued a clear instruction to all field commanders to avoid any HR violation during counter-insurgency operations,'' he said.

So far more than 100 army, paramilitary and police personnel had been dismissed from service for commiting HR violations in the state, he said and added even some senior army officers were serving life term.

Appealing the people to raise their voice, the Chief Minister said the 15-year turmoil had only added the widows, orphans and handicapped persons to the society. ''If we fail to end the violence soon, we will be adding thousands of more widows and orphans.'' UNI BAS PK HS1250