Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Nov 20: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti today said the Delhi blast and the developments that followed have intensified fear among people from Jammu and Kashmir who travel outside the region for work or study, urging Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to immediately take up the matter with the Prime Minister or the Home Minister to ensure their safety.
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Speaking to reporters during her visit to Babanagri Wangat in Kangan to offer condolences to the family of Bilal Ahmad Sangoo, the Ganderbal youth who lost his life in the recent blast outside the Red Fort in Delhi, Mufti said the victim had gone to the capital to earn a living for his parents. “No matter how much grief is expressed, it is less. They are a very poor family. Maybe that is why he went to Delhi for work,” she said.
Mufti said thousands of Kashmiris working outside the region in small trades, as well as the “hundreds of thousands” of Kashmiri students enrolled in colleges across India, are now gripped by fear. She warned that anger over the incident must not translate into collective punishment. “These are a handful of people who were involved. You can punish them, but that does not mean the common people of Jammu and Kashmir should be targeted,” she said, referring to recent videos showing Kashmiri traders being harassed in Himachal Pradesh.
She added that Kashmiri students are being profiled, evicted from rented accommodations, and questioned in colleges. “They are being harassed in every possible way. This will only increase distances and worsen the problem,” she said, appealing for urgent intervention from the Centre.
Mufti also expressed concern over educated Kashmiri youth “taking a dangerous path,” urging religious leaders to speak out and dissuade them. While acknowledging the “suffocating atmosphere” created after the abrogation of Article 370, she said nothing justifies young people turning to violence. “They should not make their lives into living bombs and kill innocents,” she said.
She demanded a thorough investigation into the Nowgam incident, noting that both civilians and police officers were put in grave danger during the handling of explosive material. “Jammu and Kashmir is going through a very frightening time. Our people are stuck in difficulties. They cannot live safely here or outside,” she added.
On compensation for the victim’s family, Mufti said no amount of money could bring back their son but urged both the J&K administration and the Centre to provide full support, including a government job for one family member.
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