Omar questions separatist leaders' silence over killing of a child in Shopian

Keller (Shopian) Jammu and Kashmir, July 25 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday reiterated his criticism of the separatist groups for their silence over the killing of a three-year-old and his father allegedly by militants.

Three-year-old Mohammad Arif and his father Mohammad Aslam, a resident of Kellar in Shopian village, were allegedly killed by Hizbul Mujahideen militants in their house on Wednesday.

Omar also criticised the state's People's Democratic Party (PDP) besides separatist groups and said that all those who frequently stage protests over human rights violations in the valley allegedly by the security forces, have chosen to remain silent over such a barbaric act.

"When the first Shopian incident took place Mehbooba Mufti and her associates took out a march from Srinagar chanting slogans against the government and security forces. When the militants killed a three-year-old child shouldn't they have taken out a march then? What kind of justice is this?," Abdullah questioned.

Previously, on April 15, Aslam had survived a similar attempt by militants on April 15 but his mother was killed.

Hurriyat leaders have also faced flak for their mysterious silence over the incident.

"For the first time the Hurriyat Conference has proved that they are not interested in the welfare of the people of Kashmir, but are in fact their enemies. They are working at the behest of Pakistan and are on the payroll of that country. They are their agents. They did not condemn the incident, they did not protest, they did not even offer their sympathies by going to the victim's family," said Usman Majeed, local politician and a former minister.

Meanwhile, accepting a lack of response, a separatist leader said he condemned the incident wholeheartedly.

"We should have issued a unanimous statement that we condemn this incident and this is not acceptable. Such things are wrong, people must understand and the people must be told clearly that we condemn such incidents, even if the victim is a thief or maybe the worst person can be our own relative," said Abbas Ansari, Executive Member of the Hurriyat Conference.

According to reports, militants have killed seven more people during last two months in the valley. All these killings have gone unnoticed.

Kashmir has witnessed uproar by separatist leaders-led groups over the incident of rape and killing of two Muslim women allegedly by the security forces.

On Friday, Omar while speaking in function in Srinagar, had criticised the separatist groups for their peculiar silence over the incident. (ANI)