Kulgam: The deaths of Riyaz and Showkat in Kulgam have left their families devastated, but instead of solace, they have faced further anguish.
Grieving women protesting for justice were allegedly manhandled by police, with videos surfacing on social media showing an officer kicking mourners—an act widely condemned as inhumane and shameful.
A viral video showing a police officer assaulting women protesters in Kulgam has triggered widespread outrage, leading to protests inside the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
Following public outrage, the Jammu & Kashmir Police acknowledged the incident, announcing an inquiry into the officer’s conduct.
The Kashmir Zone Police said in a post on X, “A video has surfaced on social media regarding a police officer’s conduct with the public in Kulgam. We have taken cognisance of yesterday’s incident and the allegations regarding the officer’s conduct. DIG SKR will enquire and submit his findings within 10 days.”
Several politicians as well as netizens condemned the use of force on people allegedly by the police. In a social media post, National Conference MP, Aga Ruhullah, said that a police officer kicking the mourning women protesting for justice is “disgraceful and inhumane.”
“The tragic deaths of Riyaz & Showkat in Kulgam have left their family in unbearable grief, yet instead of compassion, they are met with brutality. The visuals of a police officer kicking the mourning women protesting for justice are disgraceful and inhumane.
No family should have to plead for answers in the face of such loss, let alone be assaulted for demanding justice. These deaths must be investigated transparently, and those responsible, both for the tragedy and the shameless police excess, must be held accountable. The increasing number of human rights violations in Kashmir is deeply disturbing,” the post said.
PDP MLA from Pulwama, Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, while raising the “tragic pattern of mysterious deaths in tribal areas”, said the police action against protesters demanding justice is uncalled for.
“The tragic pattern of mysterious deaths continues in tribal areas. After Buddal, Kuthwa, and now Kulgam, families are left searching for answers. In Kulgam, Riyaz and Mohammad Showkat’s bodies were found, but Mukhtar is still missing.
Meanwhile, police action against innocent protesters demanding justice for the Gujjar brothers is uncalled for. The silence from the J&K government is deafening, leaving the pain ignored,” Para said in a post.
Protests broke out in the district on Sunday after the body of a youth, who was among three persons missing since last month, was recovered from a water body.
Three days earlier, his brother’s body was recovered from the same stream. Meanwhile, a search operation is underway for the third missing person.
