Rise to occasion and fight militants, Azad to people

Srinagar, July 11 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said the time has come that all should rise to the occasion and get the state rid of violence culture forever, which has given nothing but miseries.

Strongly condemning the series of grenade attacks on tourists and civilian in the city today in which many innocents lives were lost, he said it was a clear proof that militants responsible for these acts were out to destroy the economy of the people, who have already suffered a lot during the last 18 years of violence.

Describing the incidents as most unfortunate and inhuman, Mr Azad said violence mongers were bent upon to wash their hands with the blood of innocents and mar the tourist season, which has started gaining momentum.

He said repeated attacks on tourists clearly indicate that the elements behind such attacks want to wreck the economy of the poor , whose livelihood depends on tourism.

He said people of the state were one in condemning such acts vehemently and had time and again expressed their anguish unanimously over such acts of brutality.

The Chief Minister said it seemed that elements behind these acts of violence were a frustrated lot who had lost their ground and earned wide-ranging hatred from one and all. They were bent upon to indulge in such stray incidents out of total disappointment and frustration, he said.

The Chief Minister visited SMHS hospital in Srinagar to enquire abaout the condition of the injured and examined the medical facilities being provided to them.

Mr Azad went up to every injured and enquired about his welfare and directed the hospital authorities to provide free medial treatment to the injured.

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