Mufti urges LG for releasing innocents
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, May 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today emphasized that while pursuing those responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack, authorities must not give the impression that the entire population of Jammu and Kashmir is being “punished.”
Speaking to reporters here, the Chief Minister said that the post-Pahalgam situation cannot be denied, nor can anyone turn a blind eye to it.
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“We are aware of the prevailing atmosphere. It will take time. We cannot shut our eyes to reality, nor can we deny it. But we must also ensure that, in the process of apprehending those involved in the Pahalgam attack, innocent people are not troubled,” he said.
The CM stressed that such situations require “caution” and “wise action,” which, he said, the J&K Government has communicated wherever possible.
“It should not appear that, in an attempt to catch a few individuals, we are arresting the entire population of J&K. There is a need to be cautious and to act wisely, and we have conveyed this message wherever we could,” he said.
On the Kulgam incident, Omar said that it should not have happened, but added that there are reports coming in from various parts of Kashmir about arrests.
“For the first time, the people of Kashmir have openly condemned such an attack, expressed their anger, and made it clear that they do not support it. Therefore, they should not be made to feel as though everyone is being punished for the Pahalgam attack,” he said.
Regarding the rescue drills conducted by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) at Dal lake, the CM clarified that they had no connection with the mock drills ordered by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
He said the exercise was conducted as part of emergency preparedness, especially considering the frequent gusty winds observed in Srinagar during the evenings.
“The SDRF drill has nothing to do with the drills ordered by the MHA. In a review meeting yesterday, we discussed how strong evening winds have become a concern. A few days ago, two shikaras capsized. In view of this, we asked the SDRF to deploy teams at the lake to help save lives in case of similar incidents,” he said.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti today wrote to LG Manoj Sinha, urging “release of innocents.”
In a letter, a copy of which has also been sent to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba stated that the tragic and cowardly terror attack in Pahalgam has been widely condemned across the country, more so by the people of Kashmir.
“In fact, we went a step further by observing a complete shutdown and hitting the streets in protest.”
This spontaneous response, she said, marked a significant and heartening shift — for the first time, Kashmiris openly defied terrorism and stood united with the nation during this critical time.
“Even in the immediate aftermath of the attack, local Kashmiris rushed to help the injured, transporting them to hospitals and donating blood not as a favour but as a heartfelt duty toward their fellow citizens,” she stated.
Mufti noted that while “we are all unequivocally in favour of justice, the actions currently being undertaken amount to mass retribution.”
She stated that with Shri Amarnath Yatra approaching, “I humbly request your urgent intervention to put an end to this policy of arrests, punitive measures and ensure release of innocents.”
“Let the people of Kashmir breathe easy and prepare to welcome the Yatris with the warmth and hospitality they are well recognized for.”
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