Action initiated against soldiers for killing girls in J&K

The Jammu and Kashmir government initiated action against troops who shot two girls dead at Gadoora, Pulwama in south Kashmir.

The two girls were killed at Gadoora when soldiers allegedly opened indiscriminate fire on villagers who were protesting against the arrest of some youths in the village.

The killings triggered protests in the village and the police registered a case against the security personnel responsible for the firing. Ali Mohammad Sagar, minister of state for home, said the state government would not allow any human rights violation in the state. Whenever any security personnel was found "involved in any sort of excess, the minister said action was initiated against him."

Sagar said Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had repeatedly made it clear that the government would not tolerate human rights abuse and had instructed security forces to exercise utmost restraint.

The killing of the two girls and alleged custodial killing of three youth led to a walkout by two Congress members.

Earlier, inaugurating the 12th all-India whips conference, Dr Abdullah said, "while some great powers are talking of friendship with India, they continue to support the idea of an independent Kashmir... Even if we have to eat half a loaf, we must not allow our armed forces to go down."

He said talks with militants could only be held within the framework of the Constitution. "Under no circumstance can we go in for talks with the militants till they recognise the Constitution," he said.

He also had a jab at New Delhi when he discussed a controversial flag-hoisting ceremony at Leh in the Ladakh region. "Political opponents of the National Conference have always used such a plank. New Delhi should not think they can bulldoze things. I have been once called a Pakistani and a Khalistani, but I shall die an Indian," Dr Abdullah said dramatically.

The chief minister said his "brute majority in the legislature" could not be used to ignore any region of the state. "We have three distinct regions here with different religions, different cultures and different languages... That is what I call a mini-India. We want restoration of the eroded economy within the Constitution," he said.

With 215 participants, the whips conference is the first big event to be held in Kashmir in eight years.

Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen forced their entry in to a house at Damhal Hanipora in southern Anantnag district late on Wednesday night and killed former NC block president Abdul Rahman Bhat. No one has yet admitted responsibility for the killing.

Eight other people were killed in incidents across the state and security forces foiled an attempt by eight youths to cross the border.