Jammu, Aug 1 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Saturday questioned the security establishment over the terror attacks in the Union Territory, asking how such incidents were continuing despite repeated claims that militancy had been brought under control.
Referring to the killing of two migrant labourers in Kulgam and a soldier in Anantnag on Friday, he called for a high-level investigation. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene.
Speaking to IANS, Choudhary said the security forces and the Jammu and Kashmir Police had a distinguished record of combating militancy during its most challenging phases and had made immense sacrifices in restoring peace.
"I have said this before, and I will say it again now: Jammu and Kashmir's security forces have been great fighters. They have dealt with the peak of militancy; presently, the militancy is nothing. At that time, our security forces and J&K Police fought hard and also laid their lives on the line of duty. They successfully eliminated the threats posed by Pakistan," he said.
Referring to Friday's attacks, the Deputy Chief Minister questioned how such incidents took place if terrorism had indeed been eliminated from the region.
"However, yesterday in Kulgam, two of our labourers were killed; they had come to Jammu and Kashmir for their livelihood. Just a few days before that, one of our soldiers was martyred in Anantnag. This forces us to ask one question: every day when people come to you and ask what happened, how it happened. So now, we too have started asking out of regret: if there is no terrorism, then where do these people come from? How did they enter India?" he questioned.
Choudhary further said that security agencies themselves had repeatedly maintained that terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir had largely ended, making the recurrence of such attacks a matter that required answers.
"The agencies, security forces and J&K DGP themselves say that terrorism has ended in J&K; you have started cutting short the convoys of politicians. If there is no terrorism or militancy in J&K, then how were these two labourers in Kulgam killed? How was the soldier martyred a few days back in Anantnag? The security forces need to answer this now," he said.
Calling for intervention from the Centre, Choudhary urged the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to initiate a detailed inquiry into the incidents and identify those attempting to disturb peace in the Union Territory.
"Who are these people who don't want peace to prevail in J&K? Whenever we raise the issue of statehood, such incidents start happening; then they start saying that this isn't the appropriate time to grant statehood to J&K. Now, the Prime Minister and Home Minister need to intervene," he said.
He also asserted that if Pakistan was found to be responsible for the attacks, strict action should be taken. "If Pakistan is behind all this, then there should be strict action against that nation," Choudhary added.
Meanwhile, religious leader and chief cleric of Kashmir Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed profound grief over the killing of the two non-local labourers in the Devsar area of Kulgam and strongly condemned the incident.
"Islam upholds the sanctity of every innocent human life and unequivocally condemns the killing of innocent persons," Mirwaiz said.
He said that targeting poor labourers who had come to Jammu and Kashmir to earn a livelihood was completely against the teachings of Islam as well as the principles of humanity.
According to Mirwaiz, whether such incidents occur in Jammu and Kashmir or elsewhere, the loss of innocent lives only adds to the suffering of people and deepens pain.
"Violence as a means should be shunned; instead, the policy of accommodation, dialogue and engagement is the way forward to make South Asia a more peaceful and better place for all its people," he said while extending his condolences to the bereaved families.
