Adequate police protection given after Kishtwar violence: J&K tells SC

New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir government today told the Supreme Court that adequate number of police personnel were deployed in Kishtwar district to maintain law and order there following the communal clashes there. Filing an affidavit before the apex court, the state’s Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey said a Commission of Inquiry, to be headed by a former High Court judge, would be set up soon and a formal order is likely to be passed. [caption id=“attachment_1050791” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AP[/caption] He further said an amount of Rs 5 crore has been earmarked for relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the communal clashes. He said a special investigating team has been constituted to probe 15 cases registered so far in connection with the riots. The affidavit was filed in response to the apex court’s order which had sought his response on the prevailing situation in the district. A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam took cognisance of the affidavit and posted the case for hearing on 26 July. The court was hearing a PIL seeking its direction to the government to provide safe passage, food and medical facilities to the stranded pilgrims travelling back from Machil to Batote till their evacuation saying, their survival is under threat. PTI