Srinagar, Feb 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed concern over the incidents in Kathua and Baramulla, describing them as “highly unfortunate.”
He emphasized that the recent deaths in Kathua and Baramulla could “risk alienating” the local population and stated that he had raised the matter with the Centre. Abdullah called for both incidents to be investigated in a transparent and time-bound manner.
In Kathua district’s Billawar area, a 26-year-old man, accused of terrorism, allegedly took his own life on Wednesday night after reported police harassment. The death of Makhan prompted separate investigations by the police and the administration.
In Baramulla district, a truck driver was killed by Army fire on Wednesday when he reportedly ignored repeated warnings to stop at a checkpost. Officials said the checkpost had been set up at Sangrama Chowk following intelligence reports about terrorist movement in the area.
Taking to the microblogging platform X, Omar said, “I have seen the reports of excessive use of force & harassment of Makhan Din in police custody in Billawar leading to his suicide and the death of Waseem Ahmed Malla, shot by the army under circumstances that are not entirely clear.”
The Chief Minister said that such incidents could harm efforts to restore peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Both these incidents are highly unfortunate and should not have happened. J&K will never be completely normalised and free of terror without the cooperation of & partnership with the local population. Incidents like these risk alienating the very people who we need to carry with us on the road to complete normalcy,” he added.
Omar said that he has taken up the matter with the Union Government and assured that the J&K Government will conduct its own investigations to ensure accountability in both cases.
