Congress seeks answers from Centre on back-to-back terror attacks in J&K

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Wednesday expressed concern over the successive terrorist attacks in the Union Territory and demanded answers from the central government on the security situation in the region.

On Sunday, terrorists attacked a bus carrying pilgrims, drove it off the road and plunged it into a deep ravine in Reasi, killing nine people and injuring 41. Two days later, terrorists attacked a joint checkpoint in Doda, injuring six security officials.

In another incident late on Tuesday, a suspected Pakistani terrorist was killed by security forces in Kathua district. The overnight clash ended after a second terrorist was also gunned down on Wednesday, but a CRPF soldier was killed in the operation.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters here, Jammu and Kashmir Congress Committee Chairman Vicar Rasool Wani said, “We are very concerned about the series of terrorist attacks in Jammu.” Wani also criticised the central government for claiming that the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved.

“What are the security agencies and the government doing in the state? The government has made a lot of noise in Parliament about improving the situation in Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating Article 370 and converting the state into a Union Territory.

“They also wanted to gain votes in the assembly elections. Be it the Prime Minister, the Home Minister or other big politicians of the BJP, all of them have made such allegations. But today the situation has reached such a level that a series of terrorist attacks have taken place,” the Congress leader said.

He said that when Narendra Modi was Chief Minister of Gujarat, he often asked the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh where the terrorists came from.

“Today I want to ask Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh the same question. You have the Army, BSF and other security forces, then where do these terrorists come from?” he asked.

Wani said his party wanted to improve the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

“It should become free of terror. Terrorists should be prevented from coming here and the killings that take place there should also stop,” he added.

Referring to the upcoming annual Amarnath Yatra, Wani said security measures need to be strengthened and the situation needs to be reassessed to prevent such incidents.

He said the government should only claim an improvement in the situation if there really is an improvement and asked the Prime Minister and the Home Minister for answers.

“They will have to answer for what is happening. We condemn it, it pains us,” said the JKPCC chairman.