J&K assembly erupts over Billawar killings; Omar, Iltija ask why only BJP netas allowed to meet victims’ kin | India News

JAMMU: The latest killing of three civilians in Billawar tehsil of Kathua district reverberated within the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday, with chief minister Omar Abdullah condemning the incident and calling for an intensive probe. Omar and PDP’s Iltija Mufti additionally raised questions as to how only BJP politicians have been allowed to meet the aggrieved households whereas others have been prevented from visiting the realm.
As quickly because the Assembly convened, National Conference and Congress legislators raised the problem and sought a dialogue, whereas Bani MLA Rameshwar, who was assaulted on Sunday in Billawar, tried to enter the properly.
In a bid to placate him, speaker Abdul Rahim Rather mentioned the House deplored the assault on him, and referred to as for an inquiry into the matter.
Amid commotion, the speaker cited part 32 of the J&Ok Reorganisation Act-2019, below which police and public order fall exterior the area of the Assembly, saying the House couldn’t focus on the Billawar killings. LG Manoj Sinha had already ordered an inquiry into the matter, he added.
The three civilians — Darshan Singh (40), Yogesh Singh (32), and Varun Singh (15) — had gone lacking whereas getting back from a marriage on March 5, and their our bodies have been discovered close to a waterfall on March 8.
Speaking within the House, CM Omar condemned the tragic lack of harmless lives. “As the leader of the House, I want to formally express our collective concern over the killings in Billawar and extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” he mentioned.
He emphasised the necessity to verify “how and why the incident occurred, and who was responsible for it”, and likewise referred to as for taking applicable motion concerning the assault on the Bani MLA.
Omar raised questions on chief of opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma’s go to to Billawar. “…If the situation was indeed so volatile that the deputy CM was advised against visiting, how was the LoP allowed to do so?” the CM mentioned, demanding solutions from those that allowed it.
Iltija Mufti, too, questioned at a press convention why PDP and Congress netas have been prevented from going to Billawar, whereas Sharma and others from BJP have been permitted to meet the affected households. “Why these dual standards, when the administration is saying that visits of political persons can vitiate the atmosphere?” she requested.
Iltija mentioned Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch districts have been “otherwise peaceful before 2019”, however now the scenario was worrisome.
Meanwhile, DIG Shiv Kumar Sharma of Jammu-Samba-Kathua vary held a safety assessment and operational preparedness assembly at Billawar with senior officers of administration, police, Army, CRPF and intelligence businesses.
A threadbare dialogue occurred concerning the current safety state of affairs, and actions to be taken to thwart the nefarious design of anti-national parts. The DIG directed all businesses to work in larger synergy, and likewise appealed to native residents to keep peace and concord, and to promptly inform police, nearest Army or SOG camps, village defence guards concerning any suspicious motion or safety issues.