JAMMU: The recent killing of three civilians in Billawar tehsil of Kathua district reverberated in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday, with chief minister Omar Abdullah condemning the incident and calling for a thorough probe. Omar and PDP’s Iltija Mufti also raised questions as to how only BJP politicians were allowed to meet the aggrieved families while others were prevented from visiting the area.
As soon as the Assembly convened, National Conference and Congress legislators raised the issue and sought a discussion, while Bani MLA Rameshwar, who was assaulted on Sunday in Billawar, tried to enter the well.
In a bid to placate him, speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said the House deplored the attack on him, and called for an inquiry into the matter.
Amid commotion, the speaker cited section 32 of the J&K Reorganisation Act-2019, under which police and public order fall outside the domain of the Assembly, saying the House could not discuss the Billawar killings. LG Manoj Sinha had already ordered an inquiry into the matter, he added.
The three civilians — Darshan Singh (40), Yogesh Singh (32), and Varun Singh (15) — had gone missing while returning from a wedding on March 5, and their bodies were found near a waterfall on March 8.
Speaking in the House, CM Omar condemned the tragic loss of innocent lives. “As the leader of the House, I want to formally express our collective concern over the killings in Billawar and extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” he said.
He emphasised the need to ascertain “how and why the incident occurred, and who was responsible for it”, and also called for taking appropriate action regarding the attack on the Bani MLA.
Omar raised questions on leader of opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma’s visit to Billawar. “…If the situation was indeed so volatile that the deputy CM was advised against visiting, how was the LoP allowed to do so?” the CM said, demanding answers from those who allowed it.
Iltija Mufti, too, questioned at a press conference why PDP and Congress netas were prevented from going to Billawar, while Sharma and others from BJP were permitted to meet the affected families. “Why these dual standards, when the administration is saying that visits of political persons can vitiate the atmosphere?” she asked.
Iltija said Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch districts were “otherwise peaceful before 2019”, but now the situation was worrisome.
Meanwhile, DIG Shiv Kumar Sharma of Jammu-Samba-Kathua range held a security review and operational preparedness meeting at Billawar with senior officers of administration, police, Army, CRPF and intelligence agencies.
A threadbare discussion took place about the present security scenario, and actions to be taken to thwart the nefarious design of anti-national elements. The DIG directed all agencies to work in greater synergy, and also appealed to local residents to maintain peace and harmony, and to promptly inform police, nearest Army or SOG camps, village defence guards regarding any suspicious movement or security concerns.
