Srinagar: National Conference and Apni Party on Saturday staged a protest at their party headquarters in Srinagar on the deaths of three locals near the site of ambush on Army vehicles in Jammu’s Poonch district.

On Friday, three civilians were found dead under suspicious circumstances in Bufliaz village in Poonch, a day after four soldiers were killed when militants ambushed two army vehicles in the area.

The deceased, identified as Mohammed Safeer, Riyaz Hussain and Shokat Hussain, were among the several people reportedly picked up for questioning in connection with Thursday’s attack.

J&K Government on Saturday said that legal action into the death of three civilians in Poonch district has been initiated and that compensation and compassionate appointments to the families of the deceased has also been announced.

In Srinagar, the NC leaders led by senior party leader Ali Mohammad Sagar led the party protest and demanded that whosoever committed the “murder” of innocents should be punished. The protesters, demanding an end to the civilian killings, were stopped at the gate by the police and not allowed to march ahead.

“The operation to trace the attackers involved in attacking our Army jawans is still underway and the civilian bodies were found yesterday. Questions are being raised over the civilian deaths and it is the government’s duty to hold a probe to bring truth to the fore,” Sagar told reporters.

“The government should hand over the case to National Investigation Agency or hold a judicial probe into these deaths,” he added.

Earlier several leaders of the Apni Party staged a protest in Srinagar and demanded justice for the civilians whose bodies were found near the ambush site. The party leaders were not allowed by police to march ahead.

“We condemn the attack on the Army and at the same time we demand a probe to look into the civilian deaths near the ambush site,” said Apni Party leader Mohammad Ashraf Mir.

CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami demanded a fair probe into the “mysterious” death of three civilians in Poonch.

“A prompt & impartial probe is crucial to ascertain the cause of their death,” he said. “Condemning in no uncertain terms the militant attack in which 5 soldiers made ultimate sacrifices in the line of duty. My deep condolences to their families,” Tarigami said.

Meanwhile, All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) expressed deep regret and sorrow at the “killing” of three civilians in Poonch.

“This incident should be thoroughly investigated by the concerned agencies and the perpetrators brought to book,” the APHC said in a statement.

It added that APHC grieves the loss of precious human lives on all sides and condemns bloodshed, which has been taking place for decades in J&K and continues, with apparently no end in sight.

APHC said it repeatedly advocates talks as the viable peaceful alternative available to resolve issues and put an end to loss of human lives and suffering.