Kashmir trade bodies, civil society members condemn civilian killings

Srinagar, Oct 13 (IANS) Twenty-eight trade bodies and members of civil society on Wednesday condemned civilian killings in Kashmir and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families.

The representatives of 28 trade associations and civil society members on Wednesday met Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K. Pole, and Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar here to unanimously condemn the killings of innocent people in Kashmir and express grief over the loss of lives.

The participants of the meeting observed one minute of silence to remember the innocent civilians killed in the Valley and prayed for eternal peace to their souls besides paying homage to their families.

The representatives said that they are aggrieved over the loss of civilians and stated that they, as a single family of Kashmir, express solidarity with all the families that have lost their loved ones.

They all remembered famous Makhan Lal Bindroo, Principal Supinder Kaur, and all others who were killed in the latest spree of attacks in Srinagar and other areas.

Besides, they said Kashmir has suffered economically in the past and business has incurred huge losses which has also led to unemployment especially since 2014 floods, and succeeding years. They demanded a conducive and peaceful atmosphere to carrying the day to day trade activities.

Meanwhile, the representatives also flagged the issues confronting them and others ailing the industrial units in the division related to finance, banks, electricity, sanitation, rollback of GST on Pashmina, a comprehensive economic package, release of Covid relief fund, rehabilitation of houseboat owners, gem portal, a soft loan, NPAs, roads, Parimpora Bus stand, curbing drug menace, besides many other issues pertaining to their respective business.

The Divisional Commissioner highlighted the responsibility of civil society and business representatives in promotion and preservation of peace, harmony, brotherhood and respectable coexistence among different communities.

He also assured the business community that all their issues have been noted, will be taken to a higher level in the government, and addressed in a time-bound manner.

The IGP said that civil society has to come forward to condemn and criticise such killing of innocent people and stressed that all have to work together to avert such incidents. He further said that J&K Police will not allow peace to be disturbed.

He said the situation is normal and blamed the media for blowing things out of proportion which created fear psychosis among the people.