The last rites of Supinder Kour and Deepak Chand- the slain school Principal and a Government teacher, killed by 'unidentified' terrorists inside the school premises in Eidgah area of Srinagar, were performed in Srinagar and Jammu amidst protest demonstrations against the perpetrators of terrorist violence on Friday.
Meanwhile, a massive crackdown has been launched by the Jammu and Kashmir police on ground zero to track down the perpetrators of terrorist violence. Large number of overground workers and suspects were picked up for questioning by the police.
In another related development, a forum of Kashmiri Pandit employees have written a letter to the chief secretary of J&K, requesting him to exempt employees of the minority community from duties till the situation returns to normalcy.
In Jammu a teachers welfare body demanded martyrs status for both the slain teachers and adequate security cover for all the employees serving in different parts of Kashmir valley under PM's package.
Before the cremation ceremonies were performed peaceful demonstrations were held seeking severe punishment for those behind the ghastly terror attack.
Large gatherings of people from different walks of life were witnessed at both these places.
In Jammu, emotionally charged relatives and close door neighbours shouted slogans against Pakistan while a separate protest demonstration was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Forum against the merciless killings of these teachers.
In Srinagar, hundreds of members of the community assembled at the residence of Kour in Aloochi Bagh area and took out a protest march from there, carrying her mortal remains on a stretcher.
In Jammu, the mortal remains of Deepak Chand arrived past midnight after completing the legal formalities.
Large number of close relatives along with Chand’s mother Kanta Devi and wife Anuradha were inconsolable.
In Srinagar,National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah visited the residence of Supinder Kour. Later interacting with the media persons Omar said the recent attacks on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir were aimed at creating a wedge between communities and it is the responsibility of the majority community to give a sense of security to our brothers.Omar also made an earnest appeal to members of the minority communities in Kashmir to not allow a repeat of what happened in the 1990s by leaving their homes.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the residence of slain school principal Supinder Kour at Aloochi Bagh here, Abdullah also criticised the administration for failing to apprehend the attacks.
“The attacks are taking place back-to-back and no one feels secure here today. The Muslims here have also been targeted, Kashmiri Pandits and Sikh brethren also. They do not feel safe,” he said.
“This is no time for politics, and I have not come here for politics, but it is the responsibility of the rulers to make people understand where the failure lies,” Abdullah added.