M A I N   N E W S

Separatists, too, decry massacre

Jammu, July 14
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Girish Chander Saxena and Union Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah today visited Qasim Nagar, scene of last night’s carnage, and expressed sympathy with the bereaved families. They also visited the Government Medical College Hospital and enquired after the condition of the injured, official sources said.

They asked hospital authorities to provide specialised treatment to the wounded immediately.

The Governor was accompanied by Works Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister of State for Home Najeeb Suhrawardy, Minister of State for Rural Development Ajay Sadhotra, Chief Secretary I S Malhi and state police chief A.K Suri.

Expressing sympathies with the bereaved families, Saxena and Omar asked the residents to cooperate with the administration in maintaining communal harmony.

Strongly condemning the massacre of innocent people by terrorists in Jammu last night, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today held Pakistan responsible for this heinous act.

Dr Abdullah, who arrived from here from London this morning, told reporters he would appeal to the United States of America and other countries to fight the menace of terrorism which had roots in Pakistan.

“Cross-border terrorism will continue unless the international community wakes up and unitedly fight it,” he said.

JAMMU: Condemning the attack, Minister of State for External Affairs Digvijay Singh said, “The worrisome aspect is that the incident has occurred near Jammu though terrorists have been active in the Kashmir valley all these years. Now they have started spreading their tentacles.’’

He said the incident had been a result of Pakistan’s continued support to terrorist outfits. “For years, Pakistan has been supporting cross- border terrorism and infiltration.’’

Describing the Qasim Nagar killing as “most inhuman and barbaric”, JK Pradesh Congress Committee President Ghulam Nabi Azad today came down heavily on the Central and state governments for their alleged failure to tackle militancy in the state.

“Due to security failures, one carnage after another is taking place in Jammu and Kashmir,” Azad told PTI during his visit to the massacre site, where 27 persons were killed and 28 injured in firing by militants last night.

“Jammu, which was considered to be safest zone in J and K as far as militancy is concerned, has now become most vulnerable area due to security failures on the part of NC government”, he alleged.

When asked whether the Congress demands dismissal of the NC government, he said “I have visited entire state... but I am yet to see traces of any government in these places, forget about NC government”. When there is no government whose dismissal should I demand, he questioned.

Promises of Central ministers, who visited in the past after the killings, to the victims’ family went in vain, he said adding, no serious efforts were being followed up.

Azad alleged there was no coordination between the Home Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office over issue of infiltration.

“One says infiltration is down, other says it is still on this is the mockery of entire system of governance,” he said.

SRINAGAR: Several separatist organisations, including the All-Party Hurriyat Conference, today condemned last night’s massacre in Qasim Nagar near Jammu in which 27 persons were killed.

A Hurriyat spokesman said, “The killing of innocent men, women and children at Jammu was an inhuman and barbaric act.’’

Demanding an impartial inquiry by an international agency, he said such a probe would help bring culprits to book.

“We have demanded such an inquiry in the past also... but in vain and the Centre always tries to level allegation against others.’’

He alleged that the media had also been partial in reporting these incidents. “The media’s role has been unfortunate.’’

He said the amalgam believed that until the core issue — Kashmir — was resolved such inhuman incidents would keeping happening.

“After September 11, people across the globe believe that until the main cause of violence is not addressed peace is not possible. This thinking has generated some hope here and people were expecting that the Kashmir issue will be resolved soon. But what has been happening is disappointing,’’ he said and demanded that efforts be made to resolve the issue.

Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) acting chairman Javid Ahmad Mir said those involved in the massacre could not be human.

“We strongly condemned the massacre,’’ he said and demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident.

Raising questions on the timing of the incident, he said: “It is a deep-rooted conspiracy as US Secretary of State Colin Powell and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw are scheduled to visit India and Pakistan soon... Why are these incidents taking place now.’’

The Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM) and al-Omar-Mujahideen also condemned the killings.

A TuM spokesman said no religion allowed killing innocent people. “It is inhuman... we don’t believe in targeting civilians of any faith.’’

The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC), a constituent of the Hurriyat Conference, also deplored the killings.

“We always raised our voice against the killing of innocent people anywhere in the world, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir,’’ a JKPC statement said. PTI, UNI