A day after two policemen were arrested for conducting fake encounters, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said the law would not spare the security forces for killing innocents for rewards, promotions or to please superiors. Making a statement in the Assembly, Azad said the Congress-PDP government would show zero tolerance for terrorists but at the same time, security forces would not be allowed to target innocents.

“...The Constitution, Parliament, Legislature, law and governments are for the people and their protection... As such, any security person found guilty of killing any innocent for personal reasons like promotion, rewards or appeasement to bosses would not be spared... (as) nobody is above the law,” Azad said. “We will act as a rock to support the security forces as they are fighting against the militancy...but at the same time, I want to make it clear that those who kill innocents will not be spared.”

Earlier, members of the Opposition National Conference stalled proceedings on the issue of fake encounters in the Valley. NC member Mubarak Gul walked out in protest over a lathicharge on a Muharram procession in Srinagar on Sunday. “This (report of the encounter) exposes the government which every day is claiming that human rights cases have decreased in the state,” senior NC member Ali Mohammad Sagar said. Demanding a detailed statement from the government, the party stalled proceedings for over 15 minutes.

In the evening, the chief minister made a statement on the missing reports in the state, referring to the killing of Abdul Rehman Padder, a carpenter from Anantnag. Padder was reported missing with the Batamaloo police on December 8 last year. It was in the course of tracking his mobile phone that the fake encounter was discovered. “Investigations led to the recovery of the said mobile which was being used by Abdul Rashid Wagay (son of Abdul Gani) of Khatpora (Hajan Sonawari) and that it was given to him by ASI Farooq Ahmad Gudoo of Pethrompora, Ganderbal, presently posted in SOG Ganderbal,” said the chief minister. An FIR was then filed after which ASI Gudoo and a constable Farooq Ahmed Padder were arrested.

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