Minister demands justice in killing of ‘innocent’ Gujjar youth in Jammu

The recent killing of a 21-year-old Gujjar youth in Jammu was a “murder” and the deceased was “completely innocent”, said Cabinet Minister Javed Ahmad Rana on Saturday. He has also demanded a strong action against policemen responsible for the incident.

A major row erupted in the UT this week over the death of Mohammad Parvez, who was killed on the outskirts of Jammu city on Thursday evening. The deceased’s family members and leaders of his community have alleged that it was a “fake encounter”.

The authorities have ordered a magisterial probe into his death, while two police personnel were placed under suspension on Friday evening.

Talking to The Tribune, Rana said the youth was “completely innocent” and had no links with the illegal trade of drugs.

“One innocent person has been killed. The police themselves believe that they have made a mistake. Those who have done it should be punished. This is what I told L-G Manoj Sinha, since he looks after the state of law and order in the UT,” added Rana, who also holds the UT’s Tribal Affairs Ministry. The law department in the Union Territory is controlled by the Lieutenant Governor.

After the incident, the Jammu and Kashmir Police had said a small police team chasing suspected drug peddlers was “fired upon” in the general area of Mandal and one man was injured in the “cross-firing”.

But with the J&K Police facing questions, a senior officer in Jammu district has described the deceased as a “martyr”.

The minister said after 2019, “minorities were being harassed” in the some districts of Jammu region, particularly Samba, Kathua and Jammu.

“Such things are happening due to an imbalance in the present system. If there is a balance in the political system, then why not in the administrative affairs? Earlier, if the SSP was from the Hindu community, then the DCs were Muslims. But, now things have become completely one-sided, leading to such incidents,” he stated.

Rana further claimed some people were taking undue advantage of the dual power system. “I have told the L-G that the problem will not be solved by filing an FIR or suspending two persons. Action should be taken against those responsible from top to bottom,” he said.

The minister noted that statehood should be restored in jammu and Kashmir and law and order should be under the elected government.

“People have given such a big mandate to a party. Statehood should be restored and then we will maintain the law and order. We have always maintained the balance and will continue to do so,” he added.

J & K