Kitchloo reinducted into Omar ministry

Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo was re-inducted into the ministry as Minister of State for Home in Omar cabinet.

Over four months after he resigned from Omar Abdullahs coalition ministry in the wake of controversy over his role in communal violence in Kishtwar,Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo was re-inducted into the ministry as Minister of State for Home here on Saturday.

Pointing out that he will also hold independent charge of industries and commerce,an official spokesman said that with all his previous portfolios including R&B and tourism have been restored to him. He was sworn-in as MoS by Governor N N Vohra at a simple ceremony at Raj Bhawan,which was attended among others by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

This followed a clean chit to him by one man judicial commission from the charges that he had been instrumental in the communal violence that led to three deaths and injuries to over 60 others,besides torching and looting of property of both Hindus and Muslims on August 9. Kitchloo,who happened to be Minister of State for Home,was in the town on that day and was accused by some locals of being instrumental in delaying action against rioters. Following accusations,while the state government ordered a judicial probe by retired HC judge.

Though the commission is yet to submit its final report to the government,it has in its 160-page interim report exonerated Kitchloo of the charges of any involvement in communal violence that rocked Kishtwar on August 9. Instead it held that non-visibility on ground of the then district magistrate and the district police chief among other field officers including duty magistrates led the violence to spread to other areas,leading to imposition of curfew in most parts of Jammu region.