Jammu, Mar 27: The families of over nine persons killed in the November 14, 2024, blast at Nowgam Police Station in Srinagar are yet to receive any compensation or rehabilitation, Lok Sabha member from Srinagar, Syed Aga Ruhullah, informed Parliament on Friday.
Raising the issue in the House, the MP attributed the explosion to gross negligence on the part of the authorities, alleging that a large quantity of confiscated explosive material was mishandled and stored in a densely populated area.
“Last year, on November 14, there was a blast in Srinagar at Nowgam Police Station. Many lives were lost. The cause of the blast was negligence. Explosive material was placed in the middle of the population, which was confiscated. A large quantity of explosive material was mishandled. As a result, there was a blast and more than nine lives were lost,” Ruhullah said.
He pointed out that most of the deceased were from poor families, including labourers, and claimed that neither compensation nor rehabilitation measures have been provided to them so far.
“Many of the people who passed away were from poor families. Some of them were labourers. They have not yet been compensated, nor have any measures been taken for their rehabilitation. I had asked the government a few questions regarding this. I have not yet been able to get an answer,” he said.
The MP further stated that while compensation for damage to domestic structures and houses had been paid, the government was yet to respond on the issue of rehabilitation of the deceased families.
“The damage to the domestic structures and houses has been compensated for. What has been done to rehabilitate the nine lives lost due to negligence by the government?” he asked.
Srinagar MP also raised the 2010 killing of a child, Tufail Muttoo, saying the inquiry into the case has remained inconclusive for over 15 years.
“A case has been pending since 2010 in Kashmir. A small child was killed in 2010. The child’s name is Tufail Muttoo. His father had met me a few days ago. I had promised him that I would bring this case to the court. All he wants is justice,” he said.
MP Ruhullah demanded that those responsible be punished, whether the killing was a result of negligence or carried out on orders.
“More than 15 years have passed. The inquiry has not yet reached a conclusion. Was it due to negligence? If it was due to negligence, he should be punished. Was it due to someone’s order? If it was due to someone’s order, he should be punished. At least this father who is asking for justice for his child should be given justice,” the MP added.
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