Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 23: The State BJP on Thursday demanded CBI probe into the recent acts of violence in Kishtwar. The demand was made by two BJP leaders, both former state BJP presidents, after their return from the affected area. "We want CBI probe in the Kishtwar violence, besides compensation for loses of shops and other business establishments in Kishtwar town and immediate shifting of DIG Doda-Kishtwar Range," they said while talking to reporters. They also charged the State Government with "hatching a conspiracy to implicate BJP leader Sunil Sharma in false cases, as Sharma is a popular leader of Kishtwar". Should their demand for a CBI probe be considered and conceded? The following questions will help find a right answer:- Why did not the local administration act when posters of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat, both death row terrorists, appeared in Kishtwar with "messages written in Urdu of Jihad through holy war"? Why did not the local administration rid Kishtwar of undesirable elements knowing it full well that all the three terrorists, who were identified by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as main actors in the September 2011 blasts outside Delhi High Court, belonged to Kishtwar? The September blasts had left over 15 people dead. Why did not the local administration take precautionary measures to avert the Kishtwar violence taking into account the fact that tension had been brewing in the area for quite sometime as well as the fact that three youth belonging to the minority community had been beaten by some members of the majority community?
Why did not the local administration act when "intelligence agencies" warned that the situation could worsen in the area? The intelligence agencies had reportedly warned the administration "a week after the Gool incident" in July, which resulted in the death of four civilians - part of the mob -- during the BSF-crowd clashes. Why did not the local administration take precautionary steps in the wake of the July 29 incident of eve-teasing during the holy Kalash Yatra that culminated into injuries to two youths?
Is it a fact that "days before Eid, the police had prepared a list of people who were fomenting trouble, but they were prevented by the state's junior Home Minister Kitchloo from arresting them"? Is it a fact that about "1,000 people from the various villages, including Pushi, Hullar, Bandarna and Sangrambatta came to Kishtwar on August 9" and is it also a fact that "these people were carrying guns and petrol canisters, and holding Pakistani flags? Is it a fact that "some people in the procession, which passed through a minority community locality, called Kuleed, shouted anti-India, pro-Pakistan and pro-Azadi slogans"? Is it a fact that the local administration didn't intervene or take any action against the anti-national elements when they indulged in anti-national acts?
Is it a fact that "an arms shop located in the shopping complex owned by the family of Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo was broken into and the mob stole a number of guns, including nearly forty .12 bore rifles"? Is it a fact that "some weapons went missing from one the houses owned by Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo? Is it a fact that there was "hardly any police presence in Kishtwar during Eid prayers"?
It is fact that while "Kishtwar burned, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo and the local police chief and the District Commissioner did not act and, instead, sat in the Dak Bungalow with about 200 policemen"? Is it a fact that former MoS Home "stopped the police from arresting potential troublemakers"?
These and similar other questions need definite answers and CBI is the only agency which help clinch the whole issue and establish who triggered violence in. |
