Surge in militant attacks to weaken Omar govt: Farooq

Former J&K Chief Minister and NC chief Farooq Abdullah on Saturday demanded an independent inquiry into the recent spurt in terror attacks in the Valley and suggested an attempt to destabilise the Omar Abdullah-led government.

The BJP questioned the rationale behind seeking an investigation when it was evident that terrorism was emanating from Pakistan.

Conduct probe

There wasn’t a spurt in gunfights before govt formation. There should be an independent probe to find out who is doing it.

Farooq Abdullah, NC Chief

The former CM while demanding an investigation into Friday’s Budgam terror attack, in which two migrant workers were shot at, further asserted that the terrorists should be caught alive, not killed, to unravel the truth behind the attempt to destabilise the newly elected government.

“It should be investigated. How is it that the government has been formed and this is happening? I have a doubt this is being done by the people who want to destabilise the government,” said the NC chief, adding “if they (terrorists) are caught, we will get to know who is doing this. They should not be killed, they should be caught and asked who is behind them....”

He further sought a probe into the possibility of an agency’s role in an attempt to destabilise the government. “We should check if there is an agency that is trying to destabilise Omar Abdullah (government),” Farooq Abdullah said at an event here.

“I doubt why there wasn’t a spurt in gunfights before the government formation. There should be an independent probe to find out who is doing it,” he said.

NC’s alliance partner Congress also raised suspicion over the timing of the attacks in the Valley. “It is a matter of grave concern and the timing of it is actually very suspicious. Before the elections, we had a peaceful time and immediately after the poll, all this has started,” said J-K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra.

Former Deputy CM and BJP leader Kavinder Gupta slammed Farooq Abdullah over his remarks, saying it was unreasonable to trust terrorists and question the security agencies. “A responsible person should not make such irresponsible statements. Peace is maintained in J&K due to the work of agencies. It is because of the security forces that the policy of zero tolerance is being implemented.”

The ex-CM’s remarks came as an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Khanyar area of the city today. On Friday, terrorists had fired upon two non-locals in Mazhama in the Magam area of Budgam district. On October 29, the security forces had neutralised three terrorists in an encounter in Akhnoor following an attack on an Army convoy. On October 20, terrorists had attacked a tunnel construction site on the Srinagar-Leh NH in Ganderbal district, killing a doctor and six workers.