KT NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, Feb 9: Mehbooba Mufti, president of People's Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned the killing of five innocent civilians at Bandipora yesterday, while calling up on the authorities to take serious note of the reports of civilians being used as "human shield." In a press statement issued here today, Mehbooba said that such avoidable incidents not only add to personal tragedies, already being suffered by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, but also creates impediments in the peace process set into motion by leaders in India and Pakistan.
She, however, maintained that the incident goes against the assurances of the Government of India, citing, at the same time, the statement issued after deliberations between Deputy Prime Minister, L.K.Advani and Hurriet Conference (Ansari) delegation.
The statement mentioned that no harm, at any cost, would be allowed to any civilian during the security operations and there would be an end to all kinds of human rights violation.
Expressing sympathy towards the families of the victims, the PDP chief said that the innocent lives should never be put to any risk for any reason.
She further added that it was highly unfortunate that such a tragic incident took place at a stage when efforts were being made by all sides to reduce the level of violence and find an honourable and amicable resolution of problems.
The PDP president called for a need to distinguish civilians from the gun-totting people, as the common Kashmiris have already suffered a great deal of human tragedy, she added.
She cautioned that if it was not done, then no efforts at bringing peace back could succeed and without making the common people a part of the process, no progress is possible.
