Singhpora molestation incident 'Shocking': PDP

Srinagar, May 28 (UNI) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a ruling coalition partner in Jammu and Kashmir, today expressed shock and grave concern over the alleged molestation of a school girl by the Army personnel at Singhpora in Baramulla district yesterday.

''Such unfortunate incidents fuel public unrest and add to their alienation as no civilised society can compromise on its dignity and self-respect,'' a PDP spokesman said in a statement here.

In consonance with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent statement of zero-tolerance for human rights violations, the government should ensure that the security forces exercise utmost restraint to avoid recurrence of such ''ugly'' incidents, he added.

The spokesman expressed concern over the recent incidents of harassment of minority community members at Pulwama and Seer, Mattan allegedly by the ''men in uniform''.

Expressing surprise over the occurrence of such incidents, he said the government must ensure the safety of the minority community members, who decided to stay back in the Valley in difficult times.

The spokesman said the recent incidents of violence has made security situation in the state in general and the Kashmir valley in particular tense and a sense of insecurity has gripped the people.

He said the unfortunate incidents like the one at Singhpora lead to the reversal of gains of the peace process and the people who had started reposing their faith in democratic institutions were again being ''pushed to the wall''.

The spokesman has asked the government to take a look at the situation and initiate measures to restore public faith in the system before ''it is too late''.

He said the erosion of public faith could once again lead to a chaotic situation giving the unscrupulous elements the leverage to exploit it.

UNI AG VD KP1921