Reveal Killers Of Labourers, Policeman: Farooq Abdullah

SRINAGAR, Aug 2: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday demanded that the identities of those behind the killings of two migrant labourers in Kulgam and a policeman in Anantnag be made public, questioning how terrorists were entering Jammu and Kashmir despite claims that the borders were sealed.

Speaking to reporters in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag district, the former chief minister said the authorities must tell people who was carrying out the killings and where the terrorists were coming from.

“They should tell people who is carrying out these killings. All we are told is that terrorists killed them,” Abdullah said, asking how militants could enter when all borders were sealed.

Abdullah said identifying the killers was necessary to assess Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s claim that terrorism had ended in the Valley. Referring to the situation after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, he said the people and the world should be allowed to see who was behind the killings.

The NC president also renewed his demand for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and accused the BJP of destroying the erstwhile state after its reorganisation as a Union Territory in 2019.

On the situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah expressed concern over the international community’s silence, saying people there were “our brothers”. He urged the UN Human Rights Commission to send a delegation to assess the situation on the ground.

Regional elections in PoJK have been marred by violence, while the JAAC has been holding demonstrations for nearly two months over 12 disputed seats of the legislative assembly.