No Conclusive Report Yet, MLAs Demand CBI Probe

Nearby households were also checked, but no further cases were found. A probe is underway and let us wait for its final report. Sakina Itoo, health minister, Jammu & Kashmir

- Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

JAMMU: After members of the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly expressed grave concern over recent deaths of 17 people in Badhaal village, Rajouri, due to a mysterious illness and demanded a CBI probe to pin-point the exact cause of their deaths, health and medical education minister Sakina Itoo said that a probe was already underway and the house should wait for its report.

Raising queries during question hour here, NC MLA from Budhal, Javaid Iqbal Choudhary, said, "It appeared truckloads of toxins were given to the villagers in Badhaal village. Different reports by various labs suggested different toxins in various samples, but the exact cause of these deaths has not been pinpointed till date."

Choudhary said he felt a larger conspiracy was behind the deaths of people in Badhaal, Kulgam, and Kathua and demanded a CBI probe.

Independent MLA from Surankote, Choudhary Akram, also endorsed Budhal MLA's demand.

CPI (M) MLA from Kulgam, MY Tarigami said, "So many people died and the exact cause of their deaths still remains unknown. It is unprecedented. Never before in the history of this house has such an incident surfaced. The root cause behind these deaths must be known. It is very important for us to know if there are invisible hands working behind such deaths."

Tarigami also demanded a credible probe to unravel the mystery.