Recent Civilian Killings a 'Conspiracy', Kashmiris Not Involved: Farooq Abdullah

At least four civilians have been targeted and killed by militants in Jammu and Kashmir in the past two days.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.

(Photo: PTI)

Amid a spree of civilian killings being reported from Jammu and Kashmir, with eleven such casualties of mostly migrants being reported in the past few days, former chief minister and J&K National Conference (JKNC) supremo Farooq Abdullah said that the attacks were not being carried out by Kashmiris.

Alleging a conspiracy to defame the locals, Abdullah said that the attacks were to disrupt peace.

"These killings are unfortunate and done under a conspiracy. Kashmiris are not involved in these killings. It is an attempt to defame Kashmiris," Abdullah said, as quoted by NDTV.

Abdullah's comments come as at least three migrants from Bihar have been killed over the past two days.

A street vendor from Bihar, Arvind Kumar Sah, was killed in Srinagar on Saturday, following which a carpenter Sageer Ahmad hailing from Uttar Pradesh was shot in Pulwama district.

On Sunday, two more migrant labourers from Bihar – Raja Reshi Dev and Joginder Reshi Dev – lost their lives after being fired at by terrorists in Kulgam.

Bihar CM, Former J&K Governor, Others React

Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed concern over the killings of people hailing from the state in J&K and has announced ex-gratia for the kin of the deceased.

"I have spoken to J&K LG and raised concern over recent killings. Some people are clearly targeting those who have gone to J&K to work. We are hopeful that measures will be taken for security of migrants in J&K," Bihar Nitish Kumar said on Monday, as quoted by ANI.

Former J&K governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday said that the attacks were not rampant during his tenure.

"During my tenure as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, no terrorists could enter within the 50-100 kms range of Srinagar. But now, terrorists are killing poor people in Srinagar. This is really saddening," he told ANI.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the government must clarify on what basis had assured the end of terrorism in J&K after the Abrogation of Article 370.

"During my visit to Kashmir, I had said that the return of the Taliban to Afghanistan can have an impact on Kashmir also. I also expressed my concern that this silence in Kashmir is a signal of an upcoming storm." he told ANI.

Shiv Sena leader and national spokesperson Sanjay Raut called the situation "worrisome."

"The Defence Minister or the Home Minister need to tell the nation what's the situation J&K and Ladakh," he told ANI.

(With inputs from NDTV.)