Avoid rights violations, Omar tells top officials

SRINAGAR - Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Sunday directed the security forces in the state to avoid any violation of human rights at any stage while conducting operations or dealing with any law and order situation.

“The human rights violations are required to be totally avoided in order to restore the confidence of the people,” he said while chairing a meeting of the top security officials.

The chief minister convened the meeting, attended by 15 Corps Commander Lt. Gen. S.A.Hasnain, Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda, state intelligence chief B.Srinivas and other officers here, a day after a 24-year old youth was killed in army firing in Chogal village of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Abdullah said that the government’s policy of “zero tolerance to any human rights violation should be strictly adhered and any individual who is found responsible for such violation should be dealt under law, so that no civilian at any place or at any situation feel insecure during any such operations”.

Lt.Gen. Hasnain assured the chief minister that the directions will be implemented in letter and spirit. “All the units have been instructed that extraordinary and special care should be taken to protect the civilians at every stage where any security situation is faced,” he said.

“It is the policy of army to work for the protection of civilians and wherever any violation takes place, appropriate action is taken,” he said, adding all efforts are being taken to strengthen the relations between the army and the public.

The state government has already ordered an enquiry into the killing of the youth to be conducted by Kupwara’s additional district magistrate, who will submit his report within 15 days.