National Conference on Friday expressed profound grief over the tragic loss of a civilian life in protests at Arwani, Bijbehara. Expressing solidarity with the family of Arif Ahmad Shah son of Muhammad Khalil Shah resident of Gund Baba Sangam, NC State Spokesperson Junaid Mattu said the party stood in solidarity with the family in their moment of inconsolable loss.“The loss of every single young life is a grim reminder of the unquestionable need to resolve the political issue in Kashmir to pave way for sustainable peace. Young Arif Ahmed Shah, as per reports in the media, was killed during protests being held at Arwani. The Government should submit itself to accountability not only in this case but all similar cases where previous civilian lives have been lost in the current unrest. The fact that not a single tragic loss of a civilian life has been probed till now has exposed how Mehbooba Mufti has emerged as a willing tormentor of the people who is beyond a sense of repentance and regret”, the NC Spokesperson said in a statement issued to KNS.
“We are also pained and concerned at reports of dozens of civilians sustaining grievous injuries in the protests”, the statement added.The NC Spokesperson also asked the State Government to acknowledge the deteriorating situation across the Valley in general and South Kashmir in particular and realize that its gross mishandling and insensitivity over the past more than four months had compounded the misery and suffering in the Valley. “The State Government’s cosmetic efforts at portraying normalcy are misplaced as long as there is nothing substantive being done to alleviate the alienation on the ground. Tragically the PDP-BJP Government is adding to the alienation through its insensitive posturing and its denial of reality”, the NC Spokesperson further added. (KNS)