Srinagar: Kashmir’s premiere traders’ body, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has said that it expects that in her capacity as the Chairperson of the Unified Command and as the State Home Minister, Mehbooba Mufti will issue directions initiate measures aimed at protecting the lives of the citizens which is a primary responsibility of the State.
KCCI has said that it demands that the Chief Minister would ‘restrain her troops by ordering immediate cessation of hostile operations being carried out by the Security Forces in civilian areas which invariably trigger the killings of innocent and unarmed civilians; the loss of lives of our young generation is an irreparable loss which we can no longer tolerate nor afford’.
In a statement, KCCI said that it condemns the killing of young R.Tirumani of Chennai in a stone pelting incident and that the ‘gory crime has brought a bad name to our State’.
“The endless loss of Kashmiri lives is a matter of pain and anguish for all of us and we demand that senior functionaries of the State Government be accordingly sensitized and disciplined over the macabre celebrations being carried out after any killing. The loss of any human life is a somber occasion and jingoistic statements at such a time are not helping anyone’s case. The result has only been a sharp and avoidable increase in the number of fatalities on both sides as also what is cold bloodedly referred to as ‘collateral damage’ meaning the killing of innocent civilians. Respect for the dead is a cardinal principle in all conflicts and we expect no more from the State,” the KCCI said.
KCCI said that there are disturbing reports about the huge financial rewards being the reason for having created a vested interest which directly benefits from the escalation in violence. “Reports suggest that youth, students and educated individuals are pushed and provoked to feed this growing industry. They are subjected to physical and mental abuse. If true, please put an end to it,” the statement said.
