Chief Minister, Joint Resistance Leadership, Hizb, NC others condemn tral attack

The grenade blast in Tral in which two civilians were killed and 35 others injured came in for strong condemnation on Thursday.
The joint separatist leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik expressed deep shock and grief over the loss of precious lives of innocent civilians in the explosion, saying “rampant construction of camps and bunkers by Indian forces everywhere in the densely-populated areas has made life of innocent people miserable and vulnerable.”
In a joint statement, the leaders prayed for the deceased and expressed solidarity with their families. They also prayed for those who sustained injuries in the attack.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti strongly condemned the grenade attack, saying it is unfortunate that it took place when a minister had gone to assess the development needs of the area which has remained neglected for decades.
She said that the vicious cycle of violence which unfortunately has engulfed the state for three decades now “needs to be broken to stop the bloodshed and provide a breather to the people who have been choked by it.”
“How long are we going to suffer like this on human, developmental, economic, educational and social fronts,” she said, and added that “we shall have to ponder over for how long this senseless bloodletting is going to consume us.”
Mehbooba conveyed her sympathies to families of those killed and also wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh condemned the killing of civilians in the grenade attack. In a statement, he called the attack as “cowardly act and frustration of elements inimical to peace to stall development activities in Kashmir.”
The attack on civilians, he said, is an “act against humanity and people of Kashmir.” He expressed sympathies with the families of deceased and directed the officials to provide best healthcare to the injured.
National Conference also condemned the killing of civilians in what it called the “dastardly and cowardly” grenade attack in Tral. Calling the attack as “alarming and grave”, National Conference general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar conveyed his angst and sorrow over the loss of innocent lives.
In a statement, Sagar extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for speedy recovery of the injured. “My heart goes out to families of the killed civilians. Our religion doesn’t teach us to kill innocent civilians and it’s beyond comprehension as to how any God-fearing individual can allow this to happen. The state government needs to put its act together and waste no time in identifying the perpetrators of this dastardly act,” Sagar said, adding that the attack was a “clear indication of the deteriorating security scenario” in the state and puts a “big question mark over the working of the Home department headed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti herself.”
Demanding a fair inquiry into the killing of innocent civilians, Sagar said: “I fail to understand why the government has not been able to put a halt to such senseless killings happening throughout the state. It is therefore imperative that those involved in spreading fear and perpetrating atrocities among masses be exposed and brought to book.”
Meanwhile, NC’s chief spokesperson Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi also condemned the innocent killings and prayed for peace to the departed souls.
Condemning the killing of civilians in the grenade blast, CPI (M) general secretary and MLA Kulgam, M Y Tarigami, said that such attacks are unfortunate.
“The grenade attack in which the civilians have lost their lives and many have suffered injuries is highly condemnable and unfortunate,” he said in a statement.
Bharatiya Janata Party strongly condemned the grenade attack. In a statement, BJP spokesman Khalid Jehangir termed the attack as “barbaric and inhumane” and expressed solidarity with the families of civilians killed. He also prayed for speedy recovery of the injured.
Strongly condemning the killing of innocent people in Tral attack, the J&K Congress on Thursday expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives.
In a statement to KNS, vice-president Muhammad Anwar Bhat and general secretary Surinder Singh expressed deep sorrow over the unfortunate incident. They said such incidents are highly condemnable.
While offering sympathies to bereaved families, the Congress leaders urged upon the government to ensure free treatment to all injured.
Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin on Thursday condemned the grenade attack in Tral.
In a tele-statement to local news agency KNS, Hizb spokesman Saleem Hashmi quoting Salahuddin said that the attack “is a handiwork of agencies and Hizb condemns such attacks.”
He said that such attacks are being carried out “only to deviate the attention of the world community from Kashmir issue.”
The Huriyat Alliance Kashmir (HAK) in a statement strongly condemned the grenade attack, saying the attacker “is neither a human being nor a Muslim and not even pro-movement.”
Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement chairman Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (H) chairman Javaid Ahmad Mir, Rouf Ahmad Khan, Naseema Akhtar, Ruqaya Bhaji and Juniad Ahmad condemned the killing of innocent civilians in Tral.
“Such actions are extremely brutal and quite heart wrenching,” a spokesman of JKSM said in a statement.
Condemning the killing of civilians in Tral blast, Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN) president and former minister Ghulam Hassan Mir said such attacks are unfortunate.
“The grenade attack in which the civilians have lost their lives and many have suffered injuries is highly condemnable and unfortunate,” Mir said.