People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has urged President Ram Nath Kovind for a time-bound judicial inquiry into the Hyderpora incident.    

In a letter to Kovind, PAGD Chairman and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said the incident has evoked anger among people of Kashmir and needs a  time-bound judicial probe so that true facts are brought before the public.

“The tragic incident that took place in Hyderpora has evoked enormous public anger. In this unfortunate incident three civilians got killed in suspicious circumstances. The incident calls for a time-bound judicial probe so that true facts are unraveled and brought in public domain,” the letter read.

“Needless to state such unfortunate incidents widen the gulf between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the Government of India and, therefore, are to be avoided at any cost.

“We would remind your Excellency that the administration of Jammu and Kashmir is being run in the name of your Excellency by the Lt Governor acting as an agent and, therefore an onerous responsibility is placed on your Excellency to ensure that the rule of law prevails and the involved erring officials are brought to book and punished under law,” it added.

The PAGD also took the issue of the taking away of the bodies of the victims.

“..The dead bodies cannot be denied the right to burial under any circumstances including the so-called law and order problem.

“The bereaved families likewise also have a right to organize burial of the dead body in accordance with their religious practices. In the present case these rights are being denied. We would request your Excellency to intervene in the matter and ensure that the dead bodies are returned to their families so that they can perform their last rites in accordance with their respective religious practices. The matter is of grave concern and calls for an urgent action,” the letter said.

The bodies of two Hyderpora victims were exhumed at Handwara in North Kashmir, where these were buried by the authorities citing law and order problem, and were handed over to their relatives late last evening who buried them in respective graveyards in Srinagar accordingly. Demand for one more body still remains.

UNI