NEW DELHI: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday questioned the timing of the terrorist attack on two migrant labourers in Kulgam, asking why such incidents occur whenever his party demands the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.The NC had staged a protest in Delhi on July 20, demanding the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.“I regret it. We do not even know who killed them or how they were killed. There should be an investigation, a fair probe to identify those responsible,” Abdullah told reporters in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, according to PTI.Also Read | Kulgam terror attack: Kharge claims labourers were asked to ‘identify’ before being shot“I don’t know why such incidents happen whenever we seek statehood,” the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister added.Deepak Ratray and Bopinder, both in their 20s and from Chhattisgarh, were killed in a terrorist attack at a brick kiln in the Kelam area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district late on Friday evening.Officials said Ratray died before he could be taken to a hospital, while Bopinder succumbed to his injuries during treatment.The attack came days after Jammu and Kashmir Police head constable Ashiq Hussain was shot dead by a lone terrorist in Anantnag’s Lal Chowk area while on Amarnath Yatra duty on July 22.On August 5, 2019, the Narendra Modi-led Centre revoked Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Two months later, in October 2019, the-then state was bifurcated into the Union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
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Farooq Abdullah’s son, Omar Abdullah, became the first chief minister of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir after taking office in October 2024.
Mehbooba Mufti alleges security lapse
Meanwhile, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti termed the killing of the two non-local workers a “security lapse” and sought a high-level investigation into the attack.“People come here to work as labourers… Why do they travel so far? Because, perhaps, there is no employment for them back home. They find work here in Kashmir, yet they are being gunned down like this. I have no words to condemn this incident,” Mufti said in Srinagar.“I believe there is a lapse in security somewhere. I request that the local government should provide compensation to these victims, in addition to whatever compensation their home state provides. A proper investigation must be conducted… The government needs to examine where the lapses are occurring—how militants managed to come in and kill two unarmed individuals despite the presence of the Army, CRPF and police,” she added.
