Asserting that human rights violations will not be tolerated, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday defended the firing by security forces on protestors in Kupwara saying nobody will be allowed to take the law into their hands.
"We will not tolerate human rights violations, but it is also not good that someone takes 10,000 people along to attack and burn an army post," Azad told reporters after voting in polls for the lone Rajya Sabha seat in the state.
Azad said in no part of the world are people allowed to take the law into their hands. "If anybody has a grievance, they should approach the police," he said.
Four youths were killed in three incidents of firing by security forces on protestors at Watlab in Baramulla district and Trehgam in Kupwara district.
The protests at Watlab were organised after 23 children drowned in a naval boat capsize at Wullar lake.
The residents of Trehgam took to the streets to protest the alleged desecration of a mosque by security forces.
Asked about the National Conference statement that only Kashmiri protestors were shot at, Azad said such things "happen across the world".
On the recent spurt in violence in Kashmir, he said this question should be directed to those who "are creating disturbance and are inimical to peace".
"Efforts are on to establish peace and take the developmental process forward, but certain elements are only interested in hollow slogans," he said.