Jammu: Civil society members strongly condemned the tragic death of 26-year-old Makhan Din, a Gujjar youth, and criticized the administration for its inaction weeks after his demise. Despite widespread outrage, neither a judicial inquiry nor compensation has been provided to the bereaved family, raising serious concerns about justice and accountability.
In response to the growing demand for justice, a candlelight protest and dharna were organized at Mecca Dharna, Bathindi, calling for a CBI probe into Makhan Din’s case. The protest was led by prominent civil society members, including Adv. Sheikh Shakeel, senior Congress leader and DDC Suchetgarh Taranjit Singh Tony, Mohd Anwar Choudhary, Adv. Supriya Singh Chouhan, Adv. Uzma Abbas, Naresh Sharma, Narinder Sharma, Tahir, Balwinder Singh Rinku, Shamsher Chand (President of Guru Ravi Dass Samaj), along with Panches, Sarpanches, ward presidents, and concerned residents of Bathindi, Sunjwan, Chatha, and Bagh-e-Bahu areas.
Addressing the media persons, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel reiterated that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has time and again expressed his commitment to upholding the rule of law. However, he stressed that mere statements are not enough, and the commitment must be translated into action in letter and spirit. He emphasized 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 the matter up 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 & Kashmir, irrespective of their background, has 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. Emphasizing 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 is delivered. They collectively demanded immediate intervention from the authorities, warning that any further delay would only deepen public distrust in the system.
