Srinagar- The last rites of Supinder Kour — the slain principal of a government school in Eidgah locality of the city — were performed on Friday amidst a protest by members of the Sikh community here.
The funeral was performed by the family and relatives at a cremation ground in Karan Nagar area here.
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.
The protesting members of the community — both old and young alike — covered the distance from Aloochi Bagh to Jehangir Chowk on foot, shouting slogans demanding justice for the victim shot dead by militants at the school along with her colleague Deepak Chand.
The police tried to persuade the protesters to stop their march, but to no avail.
They marched towards the Civil Secretariat, the seat of the Jammu and Kashmir government, and held a silent sit-in there.
The community members said the protest march and the sit-in was held to demand justice for Kour.
Later, the family members took Kour’s mortal remains to the cremation ground where her last rites were held and she was bid a tearful adieu.
Say aim of attacks is to drive a wedge between communities, push them out of Valley
“I can understand the pain and fear the families of slain are going through and also the members of minority communities. I believe these attacks are aimed to drive a wedge between the communities and to push them out of Kashmir. We can’t let that happen,” Omar told reporters after visiting slain school principal Supinder Kour’s Aloochibagh residence here.
Omar said the attackers are perhaps trying to ensure another exodus. “I appeal to the members of the minority community don’t allow a repeat of the early 90’s and not to leave your homes out of fear,” he said, adding that he and his party will continue to press for security to be granted to protect minorities in the Valley.
Omar also questioned the J&K administration’s decision of granting 10-day holiday to government employees belonging to Kashmiri Pandit community only and ignoring members of Sikh community.
“Why this selective approach. Government must reconsider its decision and include government employees belonging to Sikh community too,” he said.
Earlier PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti took a jibe at BJP government stating that it was the Centre and their wrong policies adopted in Jammu and Kashmir post August 5, 2019, that are directly responsible for the fast deteriorating situation in Kashmir.
“BJP government and its wrong policies adopted since August 5, 2019 and before that as well, are directly responsible for the fast worsening situation in Kashmir,” Mehbooba told reporters outside Kour’s Aloochibagh residence.
The PDP chief while condemning the killing of Kour also denounced the killing of a civilian in Anantnag stating that “it’s an irony that it was stated by the government the slain youth was trying to attack forces.”
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