Describing the killing of two youngsters in north Kashmir’s Sumbal area as “gruesome, eminently avoidable and needless”, CM Omar Abdullah has expressed grief over the killings and maintained that such incidents lengthen the symbolic shortening of the emotional distance, made possible by the railway tunnel, between Kashmiris and the country.
Omar had skipped a prize distribution ceremony on a sports event on Sunday after the Sumbal killings became public. Observers say that Abdullah is worried about his image at the last leg of his coalition Government. The elections are due in Jammu & Kashmir in 2014.
In a statement issued here, Omar said, “The deaths of Tariq Ahmad laharwal and Irfan Ahmad Ganaie - two youngsters at the peak of their lives and with so much to look forward to - are tragic. They lengthen the symbolic shortening of the emotional distance, made possible by the railway tunnel, between Kashmiris and the country. This is besides the fact that, by itself, life is sacred - a precious gift from the Almighty. losing it to needless violence is the ultimate tragedy and a loss that is irreparable.” “Those who dare to challenge this right, by omission or commission are made to pay a price, the kind that serves as a cautionary example to other,” he said.
“I do not have words to express my grief and outrage over this gruesome incident that was eminently avoidable and needless,” he said.