JAMMU, Feb 19 (Agencies): Civil society members Tuesday condemned the tragic death of 26-year-old Makhan Din, a Gujjar youth and criticised the administration for its inaction, weeks after his demise.
“Despite widespread outrage, neither a judicial inquiry has been ordered nor any compensation provided to the bereaved family, raising serious concerns about justice and accountability,” they rued, demanding immediate release of compensation and a government job to the Next of Kin (NoK) of the victim.
In response to the growing demand for justice, a candlelight protest and dharna were organised at Mecca Dharna, Bathindi, calling for a CBI probe into Makhan Din’s case.
The protest was led by prominent civil society members, including advocate Sheikh Shakeel, senior Congress leader and DDC Suchetgarh Taranjit Singh Tony, Mohd Anwar Choudhary, advocates Supriya Singh Chouhan and Uzma Abbas; Naresh Sharma, Narinder Sharma, Tahir, Balwinder Singh Rinku; president of Guru Ravi Dass Samaj, Shamsher Chand along with Panchs, Sarpanchs, ward presidents, and concerned residents of Bathindi, Sunjwan, Chatha, and Bagh-e-Bahu areas.
Addressing the media persons, Sheikh Shakeel reiterated that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha time and again expressed his commitment to upholding the rule of law. However, he appealed to LG to fulfill his commitment.
He emphasised that systemic failures should not result in the loss of innocent lives and called for immediate corrective measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Speaking on the occasion, senior Congress leader Taranjit Singh Tony made a fervent appeal to the Lieutenant Governor to initiate a CBI inquiry into the matter at the earliest.
He underscored the importance of an impartial and transparent investigation, stating that the affected families deserve justice without any delay.
“If the authorities fail to take necessary action, we will take up the matter directly with LG Manoj Sinha and the Chief Minister to ensure justice is served,” he asserted.
Tony further stated that every innocent citizen of Jammu and Kashmir, irrespective of their background, had an equal right to justice. He condemned any form of discrimination or delay in addressing grievances, urging the administration to act swiftly.
He also urged LG Manoj Sinha to provide adequate compensation to the affected family and ensure a government job for the next of kin.
Emphasising the need for immediate relief, he stated that such measures would help the family cope with their irreparable loss and reaffirm the administration’s commitment to justice and welfare.
The civil society members expressed their strong resolve to continue their struggle until justice was delivered. They collectively demanded immediate intervention from the authorities, warning that any further delay would only deepen public distrust in the system.