Congress seeks strategy to check targeted killings in Kashmir

Congress crosses half-way mark in Himachal; BJP slips back


Expressing concern over the disclosure of the Army regarding the presence of around 300 terrorists within the Union Territory (UT) and over 160 ready to infiltrate from accross the LOC, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), on Wednesday, urged the government to evolve some effective strategy to check the new phenomenon of targeted killing of minorities and others in Kashmir rather than making claims of normalcy.

In a joint statement Senior Leaders of JKPCC expressed serious concern over the presence of a large number of terrorists as disclosed by the Army in view of the growing threat of targetted killing of innocents, especially minorities and outsiders.

They asked the government to check the dangerous design of forcing minorities and outsiders to leave Kashmir, as fresh migration of Kashmir Pandits has been noticed in recent past besides fleeing of Jammu employees agitating for five months seeking adjustment in safe areas.

Signatories to the statement include Working President Raman Bhalla, Senior Leaders Mula Ram, Ravinder Sharma, Yogesh Sawhney, Manmohan Singh, Shah Mohammed Chaudhary and Shabir Khan.

Presence of around 300 terrorists across J&K is contrary to the claims of Central government, LG administration and police that terrorism is on last leg.

The party suggested that all Kashmiri Pandit and Jammu employees in the vulnerable areas of valley should be treated as migrant employees.

Several Kashmiri Pandits had joined government jobs in Kashmir under the PM’s package, but they were feeling scared following a string of targeted killings. They are demanding transfer to safe places.

Senior JKPCC leaders urged the government to further strengthen coordination among the Army and security forces to defeat nefarious designs of Pakistan sponsored terrorists and their sympathisers who are forcing minorities and outsiders to migrate from valley.

The party extended full cooperation to the government, the Army and security forces in effectively countering the threat.