J&K CM refuses to use Pahalgam attack for statehood
Jammu, April 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday said the spontaneous public outrage after the Pahalgam attack is an indication that terrorism may end soon in Jammu and Kashmir and made it clear that he will not cite the massacre to push for statehood restoration.
In his 27-minute speech during a special session of the J&K Assembly, the chief minister, with his voice heavy with emotion, said “this assembly understands the pain of victim families more than any other”. The day-long session of the assembly was called to condemn the killing of 26 people, mainly tourists, at Baisaran in Pahalgam.
“I did not have the words to apologise to these families though the security of Jammu and Kashmir is not the responsibility of the elected government. As the Tourism Minister, I invited these people to come here.
“Being the host, it was my responsibility to send them back safely. I could not send them back,” Abdullah said at the emotionally charged assembly session. During the speech, Abdullah refused to ask for statehood for political gain in the face of such tragedy. “My politics is not so cheap…this is not the time to demand statehood.” Earlier, the assembly unanimously passed a resolution expressing shock and anguish over the Pahalgam attack and resolved to fight resolutely to defeat the nefarious designs to disturb communal harmony and hinder progress.
Rajnath briefs PM on situation
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, people familiar with the matter said.
The briefing came as India mulled its options to punish those behind the terror attack on April 22 that killed 26 civilians.
Citing “cross-border linkages” to the horrific incident, India has promised severe punishment to those involved in the strike that triggered widespread outrage within India and abroad.
There was no official word on Singh’s nearly 40-minute meeting with PM Modi.
On Sunday, the prime minister said the “perpetrators and conspirators” of the Pahalgam attack will be “served with the harshest response”.
Anti-terror clampdown: Police raids dozens of places in J&K
Police on Monday carried out raids at dozens of places in Srinagar, Doda and Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir as part of the massive clampdown on terror ecosystem launched after the horrific Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 persons dead.
“The searches were conducted in accordance with proper legal procedures in the presence of executive magistrates and independent witnesses under the supervision of the officers of J-K Police,” a spokesman said.
He said the searches were carried out across the length and breadth of Srinagar city at 36 locations. Most of the premises belong to terrorists or terrorist sympathisers.
As part of the stepped-up anti-terror operations, security forces have raided more than 600 locations in the Valley in just six days and grilled hundreds of suspects. Authorities have also demolished nine houses of suspected terrorists and overground workers of terror outfits since the April 22 attack in the lush meadows of Baisaran.
Sources said that police teams conducted searches at the premises of several individuals believed to be connected to terror groups and those operating from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in Doda and Kishtwar districts on Monday.
“In its continuing persistent action against terrorist associates of proscribed terrorist outfits and in the furtherance of investigation into cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Srinagar Police continues searches across multiple locations in the city. (PTI)