Srinagar: Opposition National Conference on Tuesday demanded a magisterial probe into the killing of a Hizbul Mujahideen militant's brother in Pulwama district of south Kashmir.
"The killing of a youth, Khalid Muzaffar Wani, in an incident of shooting by security forces in Tral area is highly condemnable and unacceptable act. National Conference demands a magisterial probe into the matter," party spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu said in a statement here.
Lashing out at the Chief Minister, he said "Sayeed is both the Home Minister of the state and also Chairman of the Unified Command. In both these capacities, he is directly responsible for any human rights violations or excesses that happen under his watch.
"We want the Chief Minister to answer as to how such an act could take place under his command. There should be an immediate magisterial or judicial inquiry that is time-bound and transparent and if the narrative of the victim's family is found to be correct, there should be immediate arrests and visible action against those involved," he said.
Khalid Muzaffar was yesterday killed in an encounter with security forces in forests of Tral area in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, sparking protests by local residents who claimed he was a civilian.
However, Army today said the youth was an overground worker of Hizbul Mujahideen, dismissing claims that he was a civilian.
"Did this youth deserve to be killed just because his
brother was allegedly a militant? Is this PDP's new healing touch? The U-turn Chief Minister should muster some courage and at least condemn this incident without being terrified by the fear of losing his chair by offending BJP and RSS," the NC spokesperson said.
Mattu also condemned the "disproportionate use of force" on protesters in Tral.
Meanwhile, state unit of Congress also condemned the killing of Khalid and demanded a probe into the incident.
"The killing of any innocent person is unacceptable. The killing of Khalid has shocked the entire Tral area," general secretary of Pradesh Congress Committee Surinder Singh Channi said in a statement here.
"We demand immediate inquiry into the incident, so that truth will come out and those involved must be brought to book," he said and demanded that full compensation be given to the bereaved family.
Terming the killings as "barbaric", Channi said "security forces must restrain and avoid civilian causalities while dealing with the militants".
The Congress leader reminded the Chief Minister of his pledge for "Zero Tolerance" and urged upon him to take immediate measures to ensure safety of civilians in the state.
