Excessive force used on Burhan Wani's mourners, admits J&K CM Mehbooba – Read what others said on Kashmir protest

Srinagar: Several political leaders from the state and Centre on Saturday expressed profound grief and agony over the death of youths during protests following the killing of terror group Hizbul Mujahideen poster boy Burhan Wani in an encounter.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed her condolences to the bereaved family members of the youths who were killed in the protest today and admitted that 'disproportionate forces were used on mourners' besides urging people for calm.

"I express profound grief over the tragic death of the youths and extend my heart-felt condolences to the bereaved family members in their hour of immense grief," CM Mehbooba said in a statement issued here.

Violence only brings miseries to the people and tragedies for the victim families, Mehbooba said and appealed people, especially the youth not to fall prey to the machinations of the vested interests, who play politics over the dead bodies of Kashmiris.

She asked the police and the paramilitary forces to use Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) while dealing with protesters to avoid loss of precious human lives or injuries.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh appealed to the people of the state to remain calm and maintain peace after violent protests and said that the central government is working with the Jammu and Kashmir government to bring normalcy in Kashmir Valley.

"I appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to remain calm and maintain peace," Rajnath Singh said in a statement.

"Deeply anguished at the loss of precious lives in the incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir. I also pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," he added.

Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah voiced his apprehension of a likely spurt in militancy in the Kashmir Valley in the wake of the killing of Burhan Wani.

"Mark my words - Burhan's ability to recruit into militancy from the grave will far outstrip anything he could have done on social media," the National Conference leader said in a series of tweets.

He also asserted that Wani had become the new `icon` for the disaffected community in the valley.

"After many years I hear slogans for "Azadi" resonate from the mosque in my uptown Srinagar locality. Kashmir`s disaffected got a new icon yesterday," he said in another tweet.

ADGP (CID) of Jammu and Kashmir Police SM Sahai described the situation as 'bad in certain segments' and 'not critical' in areas like north Kashmir and under control in Srinagar.

"We have had a very difficult day today. It is very unfortunate that young lives were lost in clashes," said Sahai. 

He also appealed to the parents to restrain their children from participating in such protests so that young lives are not lost.

Replying to a volley of questions, including why Burhan was not caught alive instead of being gunned down, Sahai said, "We certainly don't want to kill youngsters of our own society."

At least nine people were killed and 126, including 96 security forces personnel, were injured as mob violence and clashes rocked Kashmir over the gunning down of Wani even as authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions and suspended mobile internet services to contain the volatile situation.

Twenty-one-year-old Wani, a Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed, along with two of his accomplices, in an encounter in Kokernag area on Friday.