3 YNC workers stabbed during NC’s rally
Gopal Sharma
POONCH, May 19: While asking Pakistan to stop supporting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, former Chief Minister and National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah today urged the Union Government to order a probe into the twin terror attacks in the J&K UT.
The National Conference chief said if an investigation is not ordered into the two gruesome incidents in the UT, his party would invite an international committee to conduct an independent investigation to find out the culprits behind such attacks.
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“I have been repeatedly saying that those sitting in Delhi are misleading the people by saying Article 370 was responsible for terrorism. How many years have passed since the abrogation of the Article? Has terrorism stopped?” Abdullah asked at a media interaction on the sidelines of an election rally in Mendhar area of Poonch district.
Referring to the killing of Aijaz Sheikh, Farooq said an innocent former Sarpanch of BJP lost his life in the brutal attack. Click here to watch video
“Had he not the right to live? This is a free country and any party can propagate their ideology. Who killed him should be probed and that too soon,” the former Chief Minister said.
Farooq also demanded an investigation into the attack on the tourists in Anantnag yesterday.
“If the Centre do not go for the probe, we should invite an international committee to investigate who is responsible for such attacks,” the National Conference president said.
“I want to tell our neighbour (Pakistan) to stop terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. After the terror activities are stopped, both countries can sit together and resolve their issues,” Farooq said.
He claimed that Union Home Minister, Amit Shah met National Conference detractors during his recent two-day visit of of Srinagar. “He is the Home Minister and can visit to oversee the arrangements. But I was told that he had specially invited some people and the meeting continued past midnight. He has not met me but met those who are against our party. You can judge yourself what was the purpose of the visit,” Farooq asserted.
When asked about Apni Party president, Altaf Bukhari’s claim that the Home Minister had come to benefit NC and PDP ahead of the 5th and 6th Phase of Parliamentary elections, Farooq said he did not want to talk about that party and their claims.
“Who brought the gun here and who raised a party which brought the gun from across the border and targeted our innocent people and workers? Who was the person getting money from Pakistan and distributing it among the people here?” he said without naming anyone but apparently referring to separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajad Lone.
Abdullah said he had repeatedly told the Parliament that the same people are now standing with the BJP.
Earlier, flanked by party candidate from Anantnag- Rajouri seat Mian Altaf, former MLA Mendhar Javed Rana and other senior leaders Farooq Abdullah addressed large election rally at Mendhar and sought public support for alliance candidate, Mian Altaf. He alleged that entire Pir Panjal area has been neglected by the present administration and NC will ensure better development of this belt.
Meanwhile, three Youth National Conference (NC) workers were injured when unidentified persons attacked them with knives during National Conference’s rally at Mendhar town.
The incident took place at around 1.10 pm when Farooq Abdullah was addressing the rally. In the last row of the rally Pandal, suddenly clash between two groups erupted over some issue. Some youth attacked three youth with knives and escaped taking advantage of the melee. The rally, however, continued uninterrupted.
Police have registered a case FIR No. 75/ 2024 in connection with the incident and claimed to have detained about half a dozen suspects.
The injured Sohail Ahmad, son of Bashir Ahmed and Yaseer Ahmad, son of Mohd Shabir, both residents of Harni, and Mohd Imran (27), son of Mohd Akram of Kasblari village, received stab injuries and were shifted to a local hospital, the police said.
They said the condition of Sohail and Yaseer was stated to be serious and they were referred to Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital, Rajouri for specialised treatment. Yaseer was later referred to GMC Jammu as his intestines were damaged.
Senior NC leader Javed Rana termed the incident a “security lapse” and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. He said it is very strange that people carrying knives managed to enter the rally venue.
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