Farooq Abdullah, president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and former chief minister, has ignited a political firestorm with his recent statement advocating for the capture of terrorists rather than their immediate execution. Abdullah believes that by interrogating apprehended terrorists, authorities could uncover critical information regarding the masterminds behind a series of escalating terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

During a discussion on the troubling rise in violence, Abdullah urged for a thorough investigation into the recent Budgam terror attack.He voiced doubts about the motives behind the violence, hinting that certain individuals might be orchestrating it to destabilize the local government. “Capturing them will reveal who is behind these actions,” he asserted, stressing the importance of gathering intelligence through interrogation rather than resorting to lethal force. He also urged scrutiny of any external agencies that may be attempting to undermine the political stability of Jammu and Kashmir.

Abdullah called for investigation over assumption regarding Pakistan’s frequent accusations of regional terrorism.

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The response to Abdullah’s comments was swift. Sharad Pawar, chief of the Nationalist Congress Party, underscored the importance of taking Abdullah’s remarks seriously, highlighting his long-standing commitment to the welfare of Jammu and Kashmir. Pawar stressed that the central government and the Ministry of Home Affairs must consider Abdullah’s insights as part of efforts to address the situation effectively.

Conversely, Ravinder Raina, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party, challenged Abdullah’s stance, asserting that the origins of terrorism in the region are well-known and linked to Pakistan. Raina called for unity in support of the armed forces and police, emphasizing the need for a concerted effort against what he termed “enemies of humanity.”

Earlier, former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta condemned the recent attack on laborers in Budgam, labeling it a cowardly act that coincided with a festive period. He highlighted the ongoing threat from those acting as agents of Pakistan, urging a crackdown on both Over Ground Workers and Underground Workers involved in such violence.

The Budgam attack, in which two laborers from Uttar Pradesh were injured, marked the fifth terror incident in Kashmir since the formation of a new government in the Union Territory last month. The injured men, Sufiyan and Usman, were hospitalized and reported to be in stable condition. Local leaders, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, expressed their outrage over the attack. National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi questioned the uptick in violence following the recent elections, while Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra condemned the attack as unfortunate and offered prayers for the victims’ recovery.

This recent wave of violence has raised concerns among various political leaders and sparked calls for increased security and investigations into the underlying causes of these attacks, including a tragic incident on October 24 that resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and two Army porters.

(By Ankita Singh, Web Team at C6N)