Terrorist attack in Vaishno Devi Notice issued to DGP, J&K

The National Human Rights Commission took suo-motu cognizance of media reports on the killing of seven Vaishno Devi Pilgrims. In its Proceedings on 23rd July, the Commission called for a report from the Director General of Police, Jammu & Kashmir within three weeks on the terrorist attack and also about the alleged laxity of security as reported in the media.

According to a report in a national daily, the Jammu & Kashmir Minister of State for Public Health and Engineering, Shri Jugal Kishore, said that security in the area was lax and that he had conveyed it to the Director General of Police, J&K. The Commission noted that it was a matter of serious concern if the laxity of security had been conveyed to the Director General of Police, Jammu & Kashmir as reported in the media and no immediate steps were taken.

Sharing the Nation's shock and grief, the Commission strongly condemned the outrageous terrorist attack which occurred at Bal Ganga near Katra on the way to the Vaishno Devi Shrine on 20th July, killing seven devotees including a child and injuring many innocent civilians.

The Commission has consistently taken the position that such criminal acts are wholly unjustified and are violative of every conceivable human rights.

The Commission called upon the authorities to ensure that full force of the law must be brought to bear in dealing with such acts of terrorism and bringing to justice those who perpetrate or abet them. The Commission extended its deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives or been injured in the terrorist attack.