Farooq links timing of Kulgam terror attack that killed 2 migrants to statehood demand, seeks probe

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday, 1 August sought a fair investigation into the killing of two migrant labourers from Chhattisgarh in a terror attack in Kulgam district and questioned why such incidents occur when his party raises the demand for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

“I regret it. We do not even know who killed them and how they were killed. There should be an investigation, a fair probe into who the killers are,” Abdullah told reporters in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.

The former chief minister also questioned the timing of such incidents in the Valley.

“I don’t know why such incidents happen when we seek statehood,” he said.

Deepak Ratray and Bopinder, both in their 20s, were killed in a terrorist attack at a brick kiln in the Kelam area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district late Friday evening.

Officials said Ratray died before he could be taken to a hospital, while Bopinder was initially taken to GMC Anantnag and later referred to SKIMS Hospital in Soura, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The attack came days after J-K Police head constable Ashiq Hussain was shot dead by a lone terrorist in the Lal Chowk area of Anantnag on July 22 while he was on Amarnath Yatra duty.