Srinagar, Jul 24: Senior CPI(M) leader and MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Friday condemned the killing of a police personnel at Lal Chowk in Anantnag, calling it a “deeply unfortunate and highly condemnable” incident, while cautioning the authorities against resorting to arbitrary action in its aftermath.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Tarigami expressed condolences to the bereaved family and said the Jammu and Kashmir Police have been performing their duties under extremely challenging circumstances.
“The real culprits must be identified through a fair and professional investigation and brought to justice in accordance with the law. Indiscriminate and unabated arrests are avoidable as they have repeatedly proved to be counterproductive,” he said.
Referring to reports of large-scale arrests in parts of South Kashmir following the killing, Tarigami said while acts of violence deserve unequivocal condemnation, the response of law-enforcing agencies must remain within the framework of the Constitution and the rule of law.
He said investigations supported by evidence were the only effective means of apprehending those responsible, adding that past experience had shown indiscriminate arrests neither strengthened security nor advanced the cause of peace. Instead, such actions created resentment and inadvertently served the interests of anti-social elements.
Tarigami said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had suffered the consequences of violence for more than three decades and that the experience underscored the need for restraint, sensitivity and adherence to the law.
“Violence cannot be defeated by violating the rights of innocent people. Unabated harassment only breeds anger and alienation, making the task of isolating anti-social and anti-people elements even more difficult,” he said.
The CPI(M) leader said there was now a broad consensus among the people of Jammu and Kashmir that violence was against the interests of ordinary citizens, as it disrupted livelihoods, education and normal life.
He stressed that restoring public confidence required law-enforcement agencies to act professionally, fairly and transparently instead of relying on indiscriminate action. Tarigami also criticised what he described as the recurring practice of re-arresting individuals who had previously been detained and released whenever such incidents occurred, terming the approach arbitrary and inappropriate.
Expressing concern over what he called the growing “bulldozer trend”, Tarigami alleged that demolishing residential houses of families remotely connected with accused persons amounted to collective punishment.
He said the Supreme Court had laid down clear guidelines prohibiting demolition of residential properties without due process, including proper notice and an opportunity to be heard, and urged the authorities to respect those safeguards.
“The responsibility of the government is to provide shelter to its citizens, not to deprive them of their homes without due legal process. Upholding the rule of law is the hallmark of a constitutional democracy,” he said.
Tarigami also sought the release of political detainees lodged in prisons outside Jammu and Kashmir, or alternatively their transfer to jails within the Union Territory to enable family members to meet them without undue hardship.
Commenting on the ongoing student protests in Delhi over the alleged NEET examination irregularities, Tarigami expressed solidarity with the agitating youth, saying they were demanding a thorough investigation, accountability for those responsible and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
He described the reported suicides of students linked to the alleged examination irregularities as tragic and said the nationwide student movement reflected growing public concern over repeated failures to safeguard students’ interests.
Tarigami also referred to the hunger strike of Ladakh-based environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk, saying his peaceful protest symbolised commitment to justice, democratic rights and the rule of law.
He criticised attempts to weaken scientific temper or distort history by deleting chapters from academic syllabi, saying such measures deprived future generations of critical knowledge.
The CPI(M) leader also criticised the police response to student protests in Delhi, alleging that the use of force against demonstrators had sparked widespread concern and calling for dialogue instead of repression.
Concluding, Tarigami said the ongoing youth mobilisation offered hope for strengthening democracy, accountability and the rule of law in the country.
