The Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly witnessed intense uproar on Monday over the police action against protesters demanding justice for two tribal youths found dead under mysterious circumstances.
As soon as the question hour began, MLA Surankote Choudhary Muhammad Akram stood up in the House, strongly condemning the assault on a woman protester by a police officer. He urged immediate action against the personnel responsible, emphasizing that such an act was unacceptable and should be condemned by the entire House.
Legislators from the National Conference (NC), Congress, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) joined in the demand for accountability, calling for strict action against the erring police officials.
NC legislator Nazir Gurezi questioned whether the region was turning into a police state, raising concerns over the unchecked power of law enforcement officers. He challenged whether the police could arbitrarily shoot, arrest, or assault individuals without consequence, emphasizing that legal oversight must prevail.
The atmosphere in the assembly became increasingly charged as NC legislators Javed Choudhary, Mian Mehar Ali, Javaid Mirchal, and Zaffar Ali Khatan attempted to storm the well of the House in protest.
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However, they were restrained by marshals, preventing further escalation of the situation. The protesting legislators expressed outrage over the police action, demanding accountability and justice for the victims and their families.
As the protests continued, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather intervened and informed the members that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would address the matter shortly.
The assurance was aimed at pacifying the agitated legislators, though their demands for immediate action remained firm. Meanwhile, tensions continued to escalate in Kulgam, where the bodies of the two missing youths, who had disappeared on February 13, were recovered under suspicious circumstances.
The discovery sparked widespread protests, with grieving families alleging that their sons had been subjected to torture before their deaths. They have called for a judicial probe to uncover the truth and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The incident has further intensified public anger, adding to the growing demand for accountability and transparency in the investigation.
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