Judicial probe needed on innocent killings: Mehbooba

Jammu, Feb 3: Supporting public outrage over the innocent killings, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti today reiterated her demand for constituting a judicial commission to look into all the cases of enforced disappearances in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing an public meeting at Rajouri, Ms Mufti welcomed the arrest of two senior police officers involved in fake encounters, adding her party respects the public outrage over the innocent killings.

At the same time, she said the Chief Minister, who heads the Unified Command, must personally take charge of things and ensure that the guilty are punished and justice is done.

She said the biggest achievement of the Coalition Government after October 2002 elections was that there was a general relief in the security situation and it had a visible impact on the ground.

''Unfortunately, that trend has started reversing during the past couple of years and a sense of insecurity has engulfed the State again,'' she said.

Ms Mufti said for her party life, honour and dignity of the people is supreme to power and it would never compromise on its principles in any way.

''The state and the Central governments must act by taking concrete steps to build the public trust that has suffered immensely in the wake of the innocent killings in fake encounters,'' she added.

She said the situation calls for instantaneous substantial measures to salvage the public outrage and New Delhi must realise that it is time to act instead of brushing off these as isolated incidents.

Ms Mufti said the confidence building process must begin with the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), followed by reduction of troops from the inhabited areas of the state.

''The transformation of political thoughts for peace and reconciliation in the sub-continent offer a momentous opportunity to initiate courageous measures within the State to carry along the people by entrusting greater trust and faith in them,'' she said.

She maintained while significant progress has been made in the reconciliation process with Pakistan, it must be now complimented with confidence building measures within the State to consolidate the public faith in the democratic institutions.

UNI