Kashmir Economic Alliance expressed grave anger and anguish over the "molestation" of a school girl and subsequent killing of three unarmed, civilians youth and a woman.In a statement to KNS, KEA said it has a strong feeling that these killing at the hands of armed forces are taking place under a designed mechanism to target youth in particular and suppresses the voice of the people.“It is worth noting that in the first instance the victim school girl reportedly deposed before the police authorities that the solider tried to molest her in the washroom and their after the same school girl was made to record her statement before the police authorities negating her previous deposition thus trying to make the issue more controversial and confusing, the later statement came to be highlighted by govt agencies through video on both social and the electronic media, this methodology of the police and army agencies we believe is to shield the culprits. However the killers in any manner cannot be exonerated from their act,” KEA said.
“There is a considered opinion of the entire civil society that the said agencies involved in circulating the said video is unlawful, unwarranted and after thought to hoodwink the opinion and malign the Kashmiris. Although the govt has now instituted an inquiry into the matter which we feel will meet the same fate as in earlier such cases, therefore this is simply an eye wash and face saving tactics of the government as people have lost their faith in these inquires and investigations.”“We are amazed about the dichotomy of govt of India as recently in case of NIT row the govt of India and the Indian electronic media blew up the situation beyond the facts which was basically a non issue but the govt of India has remained unmoved in respect of these killing of youth of Handwara who have been killed by army and armed force.”
The KEA is of considered view that AFSPA gives ample powers to the government armed forces including army to kill people of Kashmir or it would be right to say that the govt of India and the state govt have given a legal licence to their armed forces to kill people in Kashmir without accountability. “We, at KEA caution the govt of India to stop the planned genocide of people of Kashmir. It is advisable that the state govt take steps towards revocation of black laws like AFSPA and Disturbed Area Act.”“The KEA would welcome an inquiry/investigation of an international independent agency to bring the truth to fore and punish the guilty.” (KNS)