Farooq Abdullah Calls for Impartial Probe, Questions Timing of Targeted Killings in J&K
Abdullah questioned why targeted killings seem to spike whenever the NC pushes for political rights and statehood for J&K. He said the pattern raises troubling questions about the motives behind such violence, adding that the people of the region deserve transparency and accountability. The two labourers were critically injured in the attack; Ratray died before reaching the hospital, while Bopinder succumbed to his injuries at a Srinagar hospital after being shifted from Government Medical College Anantnag
SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah has raised serious concerns over the killing of two migrant labourers in Kulgam, suggesting that the timing of such attacks appears suspicious—especially when his party reiterates its demand for the restoration of statehood.
Speaking in Baramulla on Saturday, Abdullah said the deaths of Deepak Ratray and Bopinder, both young labourers from Chhattisgarh, were deeply tragic and warranted a thorough, unbiased investigation. He stressed that the circumstances surrounding their killing at a brick kiln in Kelam on Friday evening remain unclear, and that only a fair probe can establish who carried out the attack and why.
Abdullah questioned why targeted killings seem to spike whenever the NC pushes for political rights and statehood for J&K. He said the pattern raises troubling questions about the motives behind such violence, adding that the people of the region deserve transparency and accountability. The two labourers were critically injured in the attack; Ratray died before reaching the hospital, while Bopinder succumbed to his injuries at a Srinagar hospital after being shifted from Government Medical College Anantnag.
The Kulgam incident follows the killing of India Reserve Police (IRP) head constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, who was shot dead by a lone militant in Anantnag’s Lal Chowk on July 22. In response, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha met the bereaved family and on Saturday handed an appointment letter to Hussain’s son, Absar Ashiq Qureshi, acknowledging the sacrifice made by the slain officer. Sinha assured the family of continued support and noted that he had visited them earlier in Lalpora, Beerwah, in the central district of Budgam.
In another gesture of official solidarity, the Lt. Governor also provided a compassionate appointment letter to Insha Nazir, the wife of Inspector Masroor Ali Wani, who was killed in the line of duty. Sinha honoured Wani’s service and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to supporting families of security personnel who lose their lives protecting civilians.
Meanwhile, questioning how militants managed to execute the attack in Kulgam despite the heightened security arrangements for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, People’s Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti said the incident raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the security apparatus.
"There is an overwhelming security presence here. This is clearly a lapse and must be thoroughly investigated. With such extensive deployment for the Yatra, how do these incidents continue to occur?” she asked.
While speaking to reporters, the former Chief Minister also referred to the security measures implemented after the Anantnag terror attack, alleging that thousands of young people had been detained and even elderly individuals had been booked on suspicion of being overground workers (OGWs).
"After the Anantnag attack, thousands of youths were detained. Even an 80‑year‑old man was picked up on the pretext of being an OGW. Despite all these measures, how were militants still able to carry out such an attack?” she said.
Mufti demanded a transparent investigation to identify those responsible and to fix accountability for what she described as a major security failure.
