Condemn the recent violence that took place on pilgrims in J&K : Rajasthan PUCL
Tags: Jammu & Kashmir, pilgrims, violence, terror attack
PUCL condemns the recent violence that took place on pilgrims in JA&K killing 9 people
State Govt must offer proper compensation and jobs to the kin of the four dead pilgrims, in the recent attacks in Reasi (near Katra) J &K
Bring all groups of J& K and the Indian security forces on the table for a political dialogue, to end violence
Joint Press Note
Eight pilgrims and the driver died and 33 were injured when the bus from Uttar Pradesh was attacked by terrorists in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir on June 9, 2024. Of the dead, four were from two families belonging to Chomu in Jaipur district in Rajasthan.
PUCL Rajasthan condemns the dastardly attack on pilgrims; the state government must offer all support to the kin of those from the state who lost their lives; families must get monetary support and government jobs must be offered to one member of each of the families that lost loved ones. There is need for an impartial inquiry to understand the failure of the government to secure the lives of citizens.
PUCL, through contacting local people, learnt that the driver came under gunfire around 6 am on Sunday morning; the injured driver then lost control and the bus fell into a gorge. Firing continued, and bullets hit some passengers. Reasi district SSP Mohit Sharma confirmed that one of the nine dead was a child; 33 were injured. Of the nine dead, four were from Rajasthan’s Chomu, residents of Panchyavali Dhani and Ajmera Ki Dhani, all members of a single family. One of the seriously injured pilgrims is also from Rajasthan.
DCP (West) Jaipur Amit Kumar said Rajendra Saini, 42, and his wife Mamata Saini, 40, are among the dead. Rajendra was the son of Hanuman Sahai Saini, Ward 5, Panchyawali Dhani, Chomu, Jaipur district. Rajendra’s elder brother Omprakash’s daughter Pooja, 30, and her two-year-old son Kittu also died in the attack on the bus. Pooja’s husband Pawan Saini, 32, was injured received treatment for a fractured foot at Narayan Hospital in Katra.
Since learning of the tragedy, villagers and relatives have been expressing a mixture of sorrow and rage, feeling helpless that the government was so impotent in preventing the loss of precious lives. While Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma was quick to tweet his condolences, PUCL is puzzled that he has not reached out with any support to the tragedy-struck families – no monetary help, and no assurance of justice.
PUCL has consistently raised its voice for justice and human rights, and in this instance too it will stand with the victims and call for government intervention to offer compensation and bring justice to those who lost loved ones to hatred and violence.
PUCL demands:
The kin of each of the dead receive Rs50 lakh compensation; a government job for one member of each of the families that lost a loved one. Such measures have been taken by the state government in past instances of such loss of life. But the Central Government must also extend itself to the families of the deceased and give a package of rehabilitation to the families.
We would like to recall that a couple from Jaipur, Tabrez and his wife Farah, too were attacked while they were travelling as tourists in Jammu and Kashmir, in the month of May. Tabrez lost his eye in the attack. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma offered only Rs2 lakh towards treatment from the CM relief fund.
In both these attacks, the state and Central governments must ensure a probe to get to the bottom of the failures that led to such strikes.
The state government must provide free treatment to all the injured.
It is not enough to seek justice in the case of attacks on innocent civilians by militants – the Union government must also set in motion a political process in Jammu and Kashmir that will encourage young people to abandon violence. There is need to engage in dialogue with all sections of society in J&K.
In the past five years, ever since the status of Jammu and Kashmir was changed without consultation with the local people, there has been a clampdown on civil society and the press. Journalists, politicians and activists who have opposed the government have been jailed and harassed. For as long as people cannot express themselves freely, such violence is likely to continue.
Priority should be accorded to restoring the full functioning of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, and journalists, activists and politicians who have been jailed must be expeditiously released so normalcy can return.
Bhanwar Meghwanshi, President, PUCL Rajasthan
Suman Devathia, General Secretary, PUCL, Jaipur district