Ensure kids don't join militancy: Mehbooba to parents

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday urged parents to make sure their children don't embrace death by joining militancy.

The appeal came a day after five civilians were killed in clashes following the death of five Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants, including a Kashmir University professor, in a shootout with security forces in a village in South Kashmir.

“Yesterday's (Sunday) happenings are extremely sad. I appeal to our people in the state and the rest of the country and also the Government of India to save our children,” she told reporters after inspecting the traditional guard of honour on the first day of the re-opening of Civil Secretariat, the seat of the state government, in Srinagar.

“God has given us a life to live in peace and harmony and not to get killed at the age of 18 or 20. I think Islam also does not permit it,” she said.

The chief minister added that in most cases, both stones and guns are in the hands of children belonging to poor families, apparently referring to stone-pelters and security forces.

“A way out needs to be found so that our children, army soldiers and policemen are not killed,” Mehbooba said and urged the Centre to initiate meaningful dialogue so that the cycle of violence ends.

“The sooner it (dialogue) happens, the more we can get our state out of the vicious cycle of killings and destruction,” she added.

The chief minister also rejected the demands for a CBI probe into the Kathua gang-rape and murder case.

“The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Crime Branch has done a very good investigation, collected all the evidence scientifically. We are convinced that there is absolutely no need for a CBI inquiry. We cannot take such a decision because the accused are demanding it," she said.

Meanwhile, Mehbooba’s predecessor and Opposition National Conference leader Omar Abdullah slammed the chief minister over her “hollow” tweet on the violence in the state and said that her brother Tassaduq was more honest than her in voicing an opinion on the situation.

Quoting her tweet, Omar said, “Your tweet has a hollow ring to it. At least your brother was more honest than you. This blood is the price Kashmiris are paying for you to remain CM & for PDP & BJP to remain 'partners in crime'."

Omar was referring to Tassaduq's earlier statement, wherein he had termed the BJP-PDP alliance as “partners in a crime” for which he had said, “An entire generation of Kashmiris might have to pay with their blood.”