Kashmiri Pandit outfits demand CBI probe in Kishtwar violence

JAMMU: Several Kashmiri Pandit organisations on Saturday condemned the communal violence in Kishtwar and demanded a CBI probe.

All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC), a conglomerate of several displaced Kashmiri Pandit outfits, lashed out minister of state for Home Sajjad Kitchloo, also the local MLA, and accused the district administration of inaction.

"We strongly condemn the Kishtwar communal violence triggered due to the inaction of district administration... and demand immediate dismissal of Kitchloo and ordering of CBI probe into the circumstances that lead to large scale violence in Kishtwar district yesterday," the APMCC Chairman Vinod Pandit said in a statement.

The APMCC demanded action against senior police officers and questioned why the government "had not bothered to issue a single press statement even after such large scale violence".

APMCC General Secretary Arun Kandroo demanded providing weapons to the minorities in Kishtwar for their safety and strengthening of village defence commitees (VDC) with communication system.