PUCL calls for political solution to Kashmir issue

Chennai: The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) on Saturday appealed to the Centre to adopt a more conciliatory approach and find a political solution to the Jammu and Kashmir issue.

The Union government should initiate, foster and encourage dialogue with all sections of people in Kashmir valley and should not be swayed by impulsive calls for brutal retribution for the Amarnath killings.

"The killings of unarmed civilians, returning from a pilgrimage to the holy site of Amarnath can in no way be justified or accepted", PUCL said.

'"Public opinion inside the valley and outside overwhelmingly condemned the killings. Spontaneously, many groups, both inside the valley as also outside both opposed the killings and also called upon all sections to maintain peace and communal harmony", it noted.

"While PUCL firmly condemns the shooting incident and the killings and acknowledges the constitutional duty and responsibility cast on the governments to protect the life of all people, it nevertheless asserts that all counter-measures adopted by the government should adhere strictly to the rule of law, including the core principles of criminal and constitutional law and the specific standards and obligations of international human rights law  and where applicable, humanitarian law," the organisation said in a press release here.