Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday expressed disappointment over chief minister Omar Abdullah’s silence on the recent Sopore and Kathua killings during his meeting with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
Speaking to reporters, Mehbooba Mufti urged the government to take action against those responsible for the incidents, and accused the authorities for targeting civilians under the guise of anti-militancy operations.
“I was hoping that Omar Abdullah would raise the Spore and Kathua incidents with the Home Minister Amit Shah, but he disappointed the people,” Mehbooba said.
While referring to the killing of Waseem Ahmad of north Kashmir’s Sopore, an unarmed truck driver who was killed allegedly by government forces, said that even doctors confirmed that he was targeted from a very close distance.
In another case, a 25-year-old Makkhan Din from Kathua reportedly died by suicide after being subjected to torture by the police, said stated.
“One expects the Chief Minister to speak on such matters with the Home Minister. He has the authority. As the opposition, we cannot directly ask the Centre, but he should,” Mehbooba added.
The PDP president also raised concerns over the alleged misuse of power by security forces, particularly in Bilawar, where the Station House Officer (SHO) has been accused of falsely implicating youth in militancy cases and extorting money.
“The Makkhan Din case is heartbreaking. A 25-year-old man, a father of two young children, was tortured to the extent that he took the Quran in his hands and ended his life,” she said.
She emphasized that immediate priority should be safeguarding human lives. “Statehood will be restored today, tomorrow or in coming times, but the lives of the people matter the most. Life comes first, then politics,” she asserted.
She also accused the authorities of restricting her and daughter Iltija Mufti from visiting the affected families.
“We, as the opposition, have a duty and a right to stand with the people when injustice happens. I was intending to visit Sopore, and daughter Iltija wanted to go to Jammu, but our movement was restricted and were not allowed to visit affected families,” she said.
Despite being a former Chief Minister and the daughter of a former Home Minister, Mufti said she was locked inside her residence, while her daughter’s security officer was suspended. “No action has been taken against those responsible for these killings, but a PSO doing his duty gets suspended,” she remarked.
She urged central government to maintain dignity in its relationship with the people of Jammu and Kashmir by ensuring accountability.
“This relationship should not be harmed further into distrust. The only way forward is to act with respect and responsibility. The government should take action against the Army personnel involved in these incidents,” she concluded.
