Government Vide SRO-375 dated 23rd August has set up a commission of enquiry headed by a retired Judge of Hon’ble High Court to enquire into the circumstances which led to the violence and arson and the consequent loss of life and property in District Khistwar and to enquire into the administrative lapses, if any, while handling the situation. The commission will also to fix the responsibility of the persons, involved in acts of violence, arson and the loss of life and property.This was stated by the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar in reply to a calling attention notice of Syed Naeem Akhtar Andrabi about the activities of some Villages Defense Committee (VDC) members in Padder Tehsil of Kishtwar district following communal clashes in Kishtwar township on August 9th who allegedly opened fire on the unarmed villagers of Kejai in Padder tehsil leaving around 4 persons critically injured and abducted a villager Lassa Khanday, whose body was later found in the nearby forest area.
The Minister said that on 10th August, 2013, communal trouble erupted at Paddar Gulabgarh. During the Skirmishes between the two communities, 04 persons sustained injuries. He said Members of one community again attacked the members of other community when they were evacuating injured persons near the helipad but were rescued by the Police. He said One Lassa Khanday, attendant of one of the injured persons, went missing during the night and his dead body was found in the area on 11-08-2013 which flared up the situation in the area and stray incidents took place throughout the day. He said the State Administration took all measures to contain the situation, including imposition of curfew and deployment of Army to assist the Civil Administration, so as to control law and order situation and ensure that no further loss of life and damage to property is caused. One coy of CRPF was mobilized from Khistwar to Padder area to deal with the rioters while another coy of CRPF was air dropped in the area area to deal with the situation. One column of Army was also mobilized. He said with the timely efforts of the State Administration and the active cooperation of the people, normalcy was restored in the area.
Mr. Sagar said cases Fir No. 16/2013 u/s 307, 336, 147, 148, 427, 34 RPC and FIR No. 17/2013 u/s 302/307/364/336/427/34/147/148 RPC were registered at Police Station, Atholi and investigation taken up to investigate the role of the accused persons including some VDC members. After competing all the necessary formalities, charge sheet in case FIR No.16/2013 u/s 307, 336, 147. 148, 427, 34 RPC P/S Atholi has been produced in the Court of law on 25-09-2013 against 08 accused persons, out of whom 04 accused persons (including VDC members) have been arrested so far and the remaining 04 accused persons are absconding, against whom proceedings u/s 512 CrPC have been initiated. He said the investigation of the case is in progress and the case will be challaned after the arrest of the accused persons.