Families of two persons killed in a road mishap caused by stone-pelting in Shopian district last week have been given Rs 5 lakh each as ex-gratia relief by the Jammu and Kashmir government.
Rural development minister Ali Mohammad Sagar and social welfare minister Sakina Ittoo visited the families of Mohammad Ramzan Malik and Javaid Ahmad Bhat on Sunday and handed over the cheques, an official spokesman said here on Monday.
Malik and Bhat died when the load carrier they were travelling in overturned due to intense stone-pelting by protestors in Shopian district, 55 kms from here, on Saturday.
The spokesman said some 9,000 mourners had gathered at the residences of deceased when the ministers visited the bereaved families to express their condolence.
Speaking on the occasion, Sagar said it is time that entire society should show solidarity and unity against such forces who are inimical to development and progress.
"It is really unfortunate when people leave their houses for earning bread and butter they fall victim to such brutal acts leading to human tragedies," he said adding that violence always has caused miseries to general people.
Ittoo said the society will never forget the colossal losses caused by such "urchins" who are trying to intimidate civilians with stones. She said now people have realised the real intention of such people and have been raising their voices against their "abnormal activities".
The only woman minister of the state said the presence of such a huge gathering in Shopian is a clear indication of the fact that general masses are fed up with the activities of such elements and time has come to put a strong check on their activities in the society.