Farooq Abdullah calls for independent probe into surge in gunfights

SRINAGAR — National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday demanded a probe into the surge in encounters after the government formation in Jammu Kashmir.

“I doubt why there wasn’t a spurt in gunfights before the government formation. There should be an independent probe to find out who is doing it,” Dr Farooq told a selected group of media at his Gupkar residence in Srinagar as per the news agency KNO.

He said the militants stuck in Khanyar area must not be killed and instead arrested. “They should be arrested to find out whether there is any agency assigned the task to destabilise Omar Abdullah-led government.”

“Tourism is thriving and people are doing their routine business, terrorism was at its lowest ebb, that’s why I am demanding a probe,” Dr Farooq said.

Pertinently, post-government formation in J&K, there has been a spurt in attacks on non-J&K labourers and also on the security forces.