JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Under fire over the communal violence in Kishtwar, Minister of State for Home Sajad Kitchloo resigned today even as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah ordered a judicial inquiry into the clashes in the district that left three persons dead and 20 others injured.
Fresh clashes erupted today in Hidyal area of Kishtwar district when protesters including women were stopped by police which resorted to cane charge to disperse them.
“I have received Sajaad Kitchloo’s resignation asking to be relieved of his responsibilities pending the outcome of the judicial inquiry. The resignation has been forwarded to Governor N N Vohra for acceptance, Omar wrote on micro- blogging site twitter.
The Governor has accepted the resignation, an official statement later said.
Kitchloo, representative of National Conference from Kishtwar Assembly constituency, was inducted in the cabinet early this year.
BJP had demanded that Kitchloo be removed pending an impartial inquiry on his alleged role in the riots in Kishtwar.
Curfew remained in force in six districts of Jammu region amid deployment of Army. Ten people were arrested in connection with the violence in Kishtwar.
However, in Udhampur district, two-hour relaxation was given in the morning which passed off peacefully.
“Curfew continues in several districts of Jammu region,” Divisional Commissioner, Jammu region, Shantmanu told PTI.
In the Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who is looking after the Home Ministry in the absence of Sushilkumar Shinde, described the overall situation as tense but under control.
Centre will extend all help to the state government to maintain law and order, he said, adding, “We will not allow repetition of 1990; we will not allow forced migration.”
Chidambaram also defended the state government’s decision not allow BJP leader Arun Jaitley to visit Kishtwar.
Omar said the inquiry has been ordered to establish the truth behind the Kishtwar violence and what followed.
The Chief Minister said the inquiry will be held by a retired judge of the High Court and its outcome will be made public.
“The inquiry will be held by a retired High Court judge in a time-bound manner to establish the facts and share them publicly,” he said.
The decision was taken at a high-level ministerial meeting chaired by the Chief Minister in Jammu today
In the Kishtwar violence, three persons were killed. 68 shops, 7 hotels and 35 vehicles have been damaged, Shantmanu stated.
“Ten miscreants have been arrested for their involvement in Kishtwar communal violence – and process of further arrests is on,” State’s Principal Secretary Home, Suresh Kumar said.
The FIRs have been already registered and investigation is going on, he said.
Apart from curfew in six districts of Kishtwar, Jammu, Rajouri, Udhampur, Samba and Reasi, restrictions under 144 CrPc were imposed in Kathua and Doda district last night. Some parts of Doda district were also placed under curfew.
Army has been patrolling the streets in various towns, including Jammu to strictly impose curfew and maintain law and order.
In Kishtwar, curfew has entered 4th day today as it was imposed on Friday last in wake of the communal clashes.
In Jammu and Rajouri, curfew was imposed on Saturday night following the Kishtwar violence and Reasi, Udhampur, Samba and Bhaderwah valley of Doda district came under these restrictions on Sunday.
In Delhi, BJP accused the Omar Abdullah government of playing politics on the Kishtwar incidents and cautioned that this was another Pakistan design in which separatist forces were involved. -PTI
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